Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of students from a medicine faculty, dentistry faculty, and medical technology Vocational Training School toward HIV/AIDS.

Abstract

Objectives: With increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS patients, physicians, dentists, and nurses taking care of these patients should have sufficient knowledge of the disease, and their attitude and behaviour should be proper. In our study, we aimed to examine the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among students from a medicine faculty, dentistry faculty, and medical technology vocational training school, to investigate attitudes and behaviour, and differences between first- and last-year students (if any) and to determine students' perception of the importance of this disease for our country and our world.

Material and methods: This descriptive study comprised first-year and last-year students of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University Medical Technology Vocational Training School (MTVTS), and Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry. A questionnaire was administered to a total of 357 students.

Results: Lack of the relevant education is obvious among all three occupational groups in our study.

Conclusions: The importance of HIV/AIDS as a public health problem all over the world should be emphasized more, and awareness of all humanity should be augmented.