Nurses knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the level of nurses’ knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases.

Material and methodology. Our research was conducted in 2007 in Szczecin among 199 randomly chosen nurses from the West Pomeranian Province. A diagnostic survey with the use of the author’s questionnaire was applied.

Results. The sources of information on sexually transmitted diseases included knowledge gained during studies, mass media, specialist literature, medical staff, and persons unrelated to medicine. Most respondents claimed that Chlamydia and trichomonad vaginalis are the microbes which are often transmitted sexually. A half of the respondents knew that the first symptoms of syphilis occur within a three-year time period, but 21,1% regarded scattered hyperpigmented papular lesions on the trunk skin as the primary symptom. The majority of the surveyed nurses knew that the symptoms of HIV infection did not occur during the first week, and that they may resemble the symptoms of influenza.

Conclusions. 1. Nurses’ knowledge of HIV infections and nongonococcal urethritis is sufficient. 2. Nurses’ knowledge of classic sexually transmitted diseases needs to be corrected. 3. The material concerning symptoms and treatment for sexually transmitted infections should be added to the standards of nurse education.