The impact of working with HIV/AIDS on health care professionals: Development of the aids impact scale

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Abstract
The 24 item AIDS Impact Scale was designed to measure dimensions relevant to the work of staff in HIV/AIDS units. Both positive and negative aspects of this work are measured. Five factors were isolated and corresponded to different dimensions of AIDS impact. These were gay affiliation. stigma/ discrimination, identification/responsibility, grief/powerlessness and recognition/reward. All scales had acceptable reliability (α = .72–.89). The gay affiliation factor was negatively related to homophobia, lack of personal accomplishment (burnout sub-scale) and depersonalisation (burnout sub-scale). The stigma/discrimination factor was negatively related to scores on social withdrawal and internal coping. The identification with and responsibility for people living with AIDS factor was positively related to scores on external coping and negatively related to social withdrawal and choice of work area. Grief and powerlessness was positively associated with social withdrawal and external coping strategies and was negatively related to internal coping strategies. The reward/recognition factor was negatively related to homophobia and social withdrawal and positively related to relationship stability and satisfaction. These significant associations demonstrate a degree of validity for the sub-factors of the AIDS Impact scale. This scale demonstrates support for the notion that the impact of HIV/AIDS is both measurable and scalable.