Background: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health problem in the United States. Nurses may be exposed to TB and not realize their risks for becoming infected. The presentation of HIV-associated TB is somewhat different from "standard TB."
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if an educational program could improve nurses' attitudes, level of knowledge, and compliance with infection control standards for HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed with TB.
Method: Participants included 50 staff nurses. The experimental group (35) and control group (15) completed a knowledge test and an attitude survey. Researchers observed participants for compliance with infection control standards pretest and posttest.
Results: Following an educational program, the experimental group demonstrated a greater knowledge of TB than the control group who did not participate in the educational program (F [1.47] = 14.43, p = .000). In addition, the experimental group had a greater improvement in their Nursing Intervention Observation Tool adherence to respiratory isolation and universal precaution protocols scores as compared to the control group (F [1.47] = 8.95, p = .004). However, there was not a tangible increase in knowledge level of AIDS, attitudes or concerns about caring for these patients.
Conclusion: This nursing research study supports the need for an ongoing educational program with continual monitoring of infection control practices to positively affect client and caregiver outcomes.