HIV-AIDS prevention videotapes: A review of empirical findings

The spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic demands that prevention reach large populations in short periods of time, goals that may be facilitated by videotape interventions. This paper reviews empirical studies that have tested the effects of HIV education and prevention videotapes. Although most videotapes are not based on psychological theories and most studies have suffered methodological limitations, research has shown that educational videotapes increase knowledge about HIV-AIDS and change attitudes related to HIV risk behavior. In general, videotapes have shown promising results at increasing readiness to change but have not demonstrated significant effects on HIV risk behavior. However, few videotape interventions have explicitly targeted risk reduction behaviors. In light of the empirical findings, a model is proposed for developing HIV prevention videotapes based on HIV risk behavior change theories.