The use of interactive media for HIV/AIDS prevention in the military community

Over 50 years of risk-reduction efforts for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) exist as a foundation for Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease Syndrome (AIDS) prevention programs in the military, yet very few innovative prevention concepts have been generated. However, the military has used interactive media successfully in medical education to supplement instructional lessons, demonstrate surgical procedures, and train soldiers in mass casualty and combat trauma. The Department of Defense plans to use interactive media in the military's STD clinics for AIDS education. The media combines the visual flexibility of an interactive videodisc with the storage and retrieval capabilities of a computer to display text, graphics, photos, and full-motion media. Rather than a completely descriptive or didactic approach to STD and AIDS prevention activities, a novice user can see and interact with an immediate-motion video representation on the screen. This is important in modifying behavior patterns and demonstrating their relationship to the transmission of the AIDS virus. The development of an interactive videodisc on HIV prevention for use in the military's STD clinics will be discussed, as well as the expedience of their multifaceted use in delivering AIDS information.