Sarawin Sittiwongse. The relationship between Buddhist characteristics and behavior in AIDS counseling among professional nurses . Master's Degree(Public Health Nursing). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2003.
The relationship between Buddhist characteristics and behavior in AIDS counseling among professional nurses
Abstract:
The purpose of this descriptive research was to study the relationship between
Buddhist characteristics and behavior in AIDS counseling among professional nurses in
the fourth region hospitals, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand. The selected
concepts of Buddhism were used to explain the relationship between behavior in AIDS
counseling and the satisfaction of AIDS counselors with their work.
The samples consisted of 320 professional nurses who had had AIDS counseling
training (Basic course) from 50 hospitals in the fourth region. Data collected by selfadministrated
questionnaires were comprised of Buddhist knowledge, Buddhist practice,
behavior in AIDS counseling and the satisfaction of AIDS counselors. Data analysis was
computerized using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient
and Stepwise multiple regression.
The results of the study showed that most of the professional nurses reported
favorably on their behavior in AIDS counseling at a high level (59.1%). The satisfaction
with their AIDS counseling role was also at a high level (86.6%). The chi-square test
showed that none of the demographic characteristics : age, marital status, educational
level, number of training, experience in AIDS counseling and income were associated
with behavior in AIDS counseling and the satisfaction with their AIDS counseling role.
The Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed that Buddhist knowledge and Buddhist
practice were positively related to behavior in AIDS counseling among professional
nurses and positively related to satisfaction with the AIDS counseling role at a statistically
highly significant (p-value <0.0001). Buddhist practice : in The Four Principles of
Virtuous Existence, total Buddhist knowledge and total Buddhist practice could predict
20.4% of variation in behavior in AIDS counseling among professional nurses. Similary ,
Buddhist practice : in The Four Principles of Virtuous Existence and The Three
Characteristics of Existence, AIDS counseling role and Buddhist knowledge of The Four
Principles of Virtuous Existence could predict 19.7% of variation in satisfaction with the
AIDS counseling role.
It is recommended that executive nurses in particular should recognize the
importance of promoting Buddhism among nursing personnel as it can affect their
satisfaction with the counseling role. Professional nurses must be trained in effective
counseling standard advocacy with integrated Buddhist principles in nursing education
curriculum and understanding how the Buddha’s teaching can be applied to nurses’
counseling performance, decision-making and adaptation in the individual, family and
community levels.