Professional attitude of health care workers toward serving HIV/AIDS patients and drug users: questionnaire design and evaluation of reliability and validity

AIDS Care. 2011 Nov;23(11):1448-55. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2011.565023. Epub 2011 Jun 28.

Abstract

The manner in which health care workers (HCWs) interact with HIV/AIDS patients and drug users during their work clearly influences the sustainability of harm reduction programs. To evaluate the professional attitudes of HCWs, we designed a questionnaire with four constructs - discrimination, acceptance of HIV/AIDS patients, acceptance of drug users, and fear - and tested its reliability and validity. Ten experts rated the questionnaire and the mean content validity index was 85.6%. Analysis of 251 anonymous questionnaires from HCWs in Taiwan yielded a composite reliability and Cronbach's α for the four constructs of >0.7. First-order and second-order confirmatory factor analysis revealed a χ(2)/degrees of freedom <3, goodness-of-fit index (GFI) >0.9, adjusted goodness-of-fit index (AGFI) >0.9, Bentler-Bonnett normal fix index >0.9, and a root mean square error of approximation between 0.00 and 0.07 indicating a good fit of the model. HCWs with training in HRPs or AIDS prevention had higher questionnaire scores than those without such training, indicating good known-group validity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Drug Users
  • Female
  • HIV Infections*
  • Health Personnel / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Substance-Related Disorders*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*
  • Taiwan