Homophobia and Attitudes towards Aids Patients among Medical, Nursing, and Paramedical Students

Abstract

For a previously developed 28-item questionnaire and a sample of 161 students training for careers in health professions, homophobia was inversely associated wth empathy for AIDS victims. Homophobia was also a better predictor of fear of AIDS than age, sex, marital status, or desired health career. It was concluded that students in the health professions may need additional instruction related to AIDS and homosexuality.