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Article
Survey of Nursing Students' Self-Reported Knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease, Willingness to Treat, and Perceptions of their Duty to Treat
Journal of Professional Nursing (2016)
  • Jenifer M. Chilton, University of Texas at Tyler
  • Charleen McNeill, University of Arkansas
  • Danita Alfred, University of Texas at Tyler
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students' self-reported knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), willingness to treat patients with EVD, and student perceptions of duty to treat patients with EVD. The researchers developed the Survey of Nursing Student Self-Reported Knowledge of EVDWillingness to Treatand Perceptions of Duty to Treat, a quantitative tool with open-ended questions to inform the responses. On-line survey software was used for gathering anonymous data. A mixture of descriptive, nonparametric, and parametric statistics were used to describe, compare, and examine relationships between variables. Results demonstrated that licensed students scored significantly higher on self-reported knowledge of EVD than their prelicensure student counterparts (P = .039). Licensed students and prelicensure students did not differ on self-assessed willingness to treat (P > .05). The students had significantly higher willingness-to-treat scores when self-reported knowledge scores were higher (P = .007) and when they were older (P = .004). Willingness to treat was not influenced by whether one was partnered or single (P > .05) or had children or did not have children (P > .05). In conclusion, basic EVD knowledge and training appears to be critical to ensure willingness to treat. However, it is imperative that students have an indepth understanding of the principles of infectious diseases in general.
Keywords
  • Ebola Virus Disease and nursing studentsWillingness to treatDuty to treatEmerging infectious disease
Publication Date
November 1, 2016
DOI
10.1016/j.profnurs.2016.05.004
Citation Information
Jenifer M. Chilton, Charleen McNeill and Danita Alfred. "Survey of Nursing Students' Self-Reported Knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease, Willingness to Treat, and Perceptions of their Duty to Treat" Journal of Professional Nursing Vol. 32 Iss. 6 (2016) p. 487 - 493
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jenifer-chilton/2/