Abstract
This study examines underlying stigmatizing opinions and attitudes of health care workers (HCWs) that may drive discrimination towards HIV-infected co-workers and patients in the workplace. Socio-demographics, opinions regarding managing HIV-infected co-workers, and attitudes regarding working with HIV-infected patients were measured using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire in a sample of 392 HCWs (113 doctors, 236 nurses and 43 technicians) in Beijing. Participants perceived a high risk of HIV transmission in both co-worker and HCW-patient relationships. Half of participants agreed that HCWs should routinely and mandatorily receive HIV-tests, HIV-infected co-workers should disclose their diagnosis to relevant parties, and should be restricted from performing invasive procedures. Most of participants feel disgusted by patients infected through sexual contact, and believed that HCWs have the right to refuse to care for infected patients, and that those patients should be treated only in designated hospitals. Almost all participants intended to avoid performing invasive clinical procedures or nursing services for HIV-infected patients. Nurses had significantly more stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV-infected patients than doctors and technicians. The identified rigid opinions on managing HIV-infected co-workers, together with stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV-infected persons, underscores an urgent need for interventions to prevent discriminatory practices in health care settings.
Highlights
Health services play a vital role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, treatment and care [1,2]
This study reveals that health care workers (HCWs) in two tertiary hospitals in Beijing held rigid opinions on managing HIV-infected co-workers and stigmatizing attitudes towards HIVinfected patients, which suggest that efforts are needed to overcome potential hostility and stigmatization in hospitals
The majority of participants believed that HCWs should routinely and mandatorily receive HIV tests, that HIV-infected co-workers should disclose their diagnosis to relevant parties, and be restricted from performing invasive procedures
Summary
Health services play a vital role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, treatment and care [1,2]. Previous international studies [7,8] have indicated that many people have rigid opinions concerning how HIV-infected HCWs should be managed, namely mandatory HIV testing of HCWs, avoidance of performing exposure-prone procedures, and notification of the infection to patients. Despite the generally strong legislative protection of people with HIV accessing the health care system in China, it is of concern that current Chinese employment laws prevent HIV-infected individuals from professional practices [12], especially medical practices, which might encourage stigma and discrimination and hamper efforts to fight the disease
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