Addicted patients. Attitude of nursing personnel
Cardó Vila, G.; González Sánchez, M.C.; Sumalla Gómez, E.C.
Revista de Enfermeria 22(5): 348-351
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0210-5020 PMID: 10514764 Document Number: 511139
Inside the realm of therapeutic relationships, one recognizes the importance of the nurse's attitude towards patients as one of those elements bearing influence on the objectives desired by the nursing profession. This study compares the attitudes towards via parenteral drug addicts held by nursing students and non specialized nurses. By means of a pilot study which used a selfadministered Litcker scale questionnaire developed by the study authors, two samples were selected: a student sample (n = 40) and a non specialized nurse sample (n = 40). These variables were evaluated in the two samples: age, professional experience, and the frequency in sporadic care for via parenteral drug addicts. The conclusion drawn from this study is that the attitude of nursing students is significantly more positive towards via parenteral drug addicts than the attitude held by non specialized nurses. The adoption of a more negative attitude towards these patients occurs at the start of a nurse's professional career.