The effect of sponsoring an AIDS memorial quilt display on the attitudes of health care workers caring for patients with HIV disease

Our Infection Control Program established an HIV Resource Group, consisting of employees from ah major services and clinical programs. The purpose of this group is to network and sponsor education programs. Each member has become the “HIV expert” in their respective areas. As documented in the literature, it became apparent that regular inservice programs were not totally effective in changing behavior or decreasing fear and prejudice attitudes in some health cam workers. The HIV Resource Group and our Infection Control Program sponsored a small display of the AIDS Memorial QUILT on June 14, 1989, becoming the first hospital in the country to do so. Two quilt panels memorializing employees and patients from our center that have died of AIDS were made and presented to the NAMES Project Foundation that day. The QUILT display was open to patients, employees and the public. Evaluations from the 1,200 persons who attended reflected heightened personal awareness and responsibility to the HIV epidemic. The role of our medical center in caring for the HIV patients in our community was also strengthened. Following the QUILT display, we found a notable decrease in HIV related “hysteria” calls to our office. We feel that by personalizing the HIV epidemic through a QUILT display, fear and prejudice attitudes at our center were decreased. It follows that patients with HIV disease will receive more compassionate care from health care workers who have less fear and prejudice. To further substantiate this, a 6-month followup survey of employees attending the display was conducted. The process for establishing a R.esource Group and sponsoring an AIDS Memorial Quilt display and the results of the follow-up survey will bc presented.