The Impact of an Education Intervention to Change Nurses’ HIV-Related Knowledge and Attitudes in Lithuania: A Randomized Controlled Trial Vida Mockiene, RN Tarja Suominen, PhD, RN Maritta Valimaki, PhD, RN Arturas Razbadauskas, PhD, MD Arvydas Martinkenas, PhD, ID Saulius Caplinskas, PhD, MD The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of an intervention program on nurses’ HIV-related knowl- edge and attitudes in Lithuania. The program focused on HIVepidemiology, transmission, coinfections, treat- ment and care, risk contacts, and moral and ethical dilemmas. It was designed to increase nurses’ knowl- edge and positive attitudes concerning HIV. The study used a randomized controlled trial design with two ex- perimental groups ([EG]; EG1, n 5 63, EG2, n 5 63) and one control group (n 5 59) in three Lithuanian hospitals. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by Held (1993). The questionnaire included questions about participant demographic characteris- tics, knowledge, and attitudes toward those living with HIV. The education intervention, which combined a 2-day workshop and written materials, had a positive effect on the knowledge levels of nurses. However, written materials alone failed to improve nurses’ knowledge or change their attitudes. (Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 22, 140-149) Copyright Ó 2011 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Key words: attitude, education, HIV, knowledge, Lithuania, nurse Nurses are the largest segment of the health care workforce in the world. They are involved in virtually all levels of health care and are often the central points of contact for the clinical care of people living with HIV (PLWH). Adequate preparatory education is the precondition for effective nursing action. However, reports have shown that most nurses have not received adequate pre-service education or acquired the Vida Mockiene, RN, is a PhD Student, Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland and Lecturer, Department of Nursing, University of Klaipeda, Klaipeda, Lithuania. Tarja Suominen, PhD, RN, is a Professor, Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Tam- pere, and a Visiting Professor at Department of Nursing, University of Klaipeda, Klaipeda. Maritta Valimaki, PhD, RN, is a Professor, Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, and Nursing Director, Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland. Arturas Razbadauskas, PhD, MD, is an Adjunct Professor and Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Klaipeda, Klaipeda. Arvydas Martinkenas, PhD, ID, is an Adjunct Professor and Head, Department of Medical Technology, University of Klaipeda, Klaipeda. Sau- lius Caplinskas, PhD, MD, is an Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mykolas Romeris, Vilnius, Lithuania, and Director, Centre for Communicable Diseases and AIDS, Vilnius, Lithuania. JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NURSES IN AIDS CARE, Vol. 22, No. 2, March/April 2011, 140-149 doi:10.1016/j.jana.2010.07.006 Copyright Ó 2011 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care