An assessment of nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward patients with sickle cell disease

Authors

Marie Osline Etienne, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Nursing

First Advisor's Name

Luz S. Porter

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Marjorie T. Burkett

Third Advisor's Name

William J. Keppler

Date of Defense

11-10-1998

Abstract

This descriptive comparative, correlational study examined nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The literature suggests that SCD patients are inadequately managed by nurses, resulting in unnecessary suffering, delayed treatment, and prolonged hospitalization. The study was conducted on a convenience sample of 109 registered nurses (RNs) working in southeast Florida. The data, collected via self-administered questionnaires using the Nurses Knowledge Base Inventory (Lorenzi, 1993) and the Sickle Cell Disease Attitude Questionnaire, were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Knowledge was not found to be correlated with attitude. A perplexing finding was the inverse relationship between education level and attitude (r= .23, p= .015). Ethnicity was not a differentiating factor in nurses SCD attitude scores, however, there was a strong trend showing that Blacks were the least positive in SCD attitude among the four ethnic groups studied. Formal education alone may not be sufficient in gaining better knowledge and understanding about SCD. Appropriate interventions might be achieved when nurses are knowledgeable about SCD and possess a positive attitudes toward patients with SCD.

Identifier

FI15101322

Recommended Citation

Etienne, Marie Osline, "An assessment of nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward patients with sickle cell disease" (1998). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3281.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3281