Effectiveness of an Empowering Programme on Student Nurses' Understanding and Beliefs about HIV/AIDS

Context: Recent research has shown inadequate knowledge, understanding and unfavorable attitude towards HIV/AIDS amongst the youth. Many young people across India are still not receiving information about HIV/AIDS.

Aim: The main aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of an empowering programme on student nurses' understanding and beliefs related to HIV/AIDS in a selected college of nursing in Delhi.

Settings and Design: This true experimental study following pretest post design was conducted in Rufaida College of Nursing, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.

Method and Material: The study was conducted among 65 student nurses pursuing third year BSc nursing and General nursing during Aug 2011- March 2012. The students were randomized into experimental and control group using a computer generated table of random numbers. There were 33 students in experimental group who received five days empowering programme and 32 students in the control group who were not exposed to the empowering programme.

Statistical analysis used: Analysis was done using SPSS 16 using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. Student t test was used to compare the understanding and beliefs between the groups. Level of significance (p value) was kept at .05.

Results: Empowering programme was highly effective in increasing the understanding of student nurses about HIV/AIDS and modifying their beliefs related to the same.

Conclusion: Empowering program facilitated the understanding and bringing about positive change in the student nurses' beliefs about HIV/AIDS. More such programs can be planned and executed to enable our youngsters to fight with the modern day epidemic i.e. HIV/AIDS.