02033nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653002800059653002300087653004200110653001100152653001200163653002200175100001500197700001400212700001300226700001500239700001300254700001300267700001400280245010400294300001000398490000700408520132600415022001401741       2011                            d  c2011 Jan-Mar10aCross-Sectional Studies10aEducation, Nursing10aHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice10aHumans10aleprosy10aStudents, Nursing1 aRajkumar E1 aJulious S1 aSalome A1 aJennifer G1 aJohn A S1 aKannan L1 aRichard J00aEffects of environment and education on knowledge and attitude of nursing students towards leprosy.  a37-430 v833 a<p>The objective of this cross-sectional comparative study was to find the effects of environment and education on knowledge and attitude of nursing students towards leprosy. Data were collected, using a pretested questionnaire, from the first year and third year students of a School of Nursing attached to a leprosy specialty hospital and also from a comparable School of Nursing attached to a general hospital. The results showed that trainees acquired more knowledge on leprosy during training in both schools of nursing. However, those trained in leprosy hospital environment had higher knowledge and attitude scores than those trained in general hospital environment. The attitude of the trainees attached to leprosy hospital was favourable even before they had formal training in leprosy. Those trained in the general hospital showed more favourable attitude after training compared to before training. School of Nursing attached to leprosy hospital provided an atmosphere conducive to learning and understanding more about leprosy. The trainees retained what was learnt because of regular association with patients affected by leprosy. For employment in hospital or community based services or research related to leprosy, nurses trained in a leprosy hospital would have added value of knowledge and attitude.</p>  a0254-9395