AIDS education for medical technologists
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Date
2016-06-08
Authors
Baker, Elizabeth Fryer
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Abstract
The epidemic spread of AIDS has focused attention on
occupationally acquired HlV infections and although the risk
of infection is known to be low, 28 caSes of aIV seroconversion
have been documented in health-care workers in the
absence of other known risk factors. It is ianportant that
medical technologists perceive the relevance of this disease,
as the prevention of HlV transmission in the laboratory is
reliant upon the continual adherence to laboratory safety
precautions. A science education. progra.mme was tested on 38
medical t.echnologists who were divided into two groups. The
programme aimed to increase the knowledge of the medical·
technologists about relevant scientific aspects of HIV
infection and to stress the irtiportanceof laboratory safety.
The results showed significant increases in the overall
knowledge of the medical technologists in the fields of
scient.ific knowledge, HIV diagnosis and laboratory safety
practices. Significant changes in the perception of all the
participants occurred in the area of laboratory safety.
Perceptual. changes, such as a heightened awareness of AIDS
and. a change in attitude towards p~ople with AIDS, occurred
only in Group 1. These results indicate that the programme
had increased the knowledge of medical technologists. However
there is still room for improvement in certain areas and it
is concluded that unless this education is continually
reinforced the benefits will not be sustained.
Description
A research report
University of
in part fulfilment
MASTER OF SCIENCE.
JUr.,y 1993.
submitted
the
of tne
to the Faculty of Science,
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,
requirements for the degree