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AIDS education intervention utilizing a person with AIDS: examination and clarification
E B Dennehy1, C A Edwards, R L Keller
1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington 28403, USA.
Summary
Using a person with AIDS (PWA) to deliver information significantly improved college students' knowledge about AIDS prevention. However, the perceived mode of HIV transmission influenced how positively students viewed the PWA as a source.
Area of Science:
- Health Communication
- Public Health Education
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Effective delivery of health information, particularly regarding sensitive topics like AIDS, is crucial for public health.
- Understanding how source characteristics, such as lived experience, impact message reception is vital for educational program design.
- Previous research has explored various factors influencing health message effectiveness, but the role of HIV transmission mode in perceptions of an AIDS-affected source requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of a person with AIDS (PWA) as a source for conveying AIDS information to college students.
- To examine whether the mode of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission moderates students' receptivity to AIDS information and their perception of the PWA as a source.
- To compare the impact of different HIV transmission modes on source credibility and knowledge acquisition.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 260 undergraduate students who received a lecture from a confederate posing as a PWA.
- The confederate disclosed HIV positive status via heterosexual transmission, homosexual transmission, needle-sharing, or blood transfusion.
- Control groups received the lecture from a neutral presenter or had no contact, allowing for comparison.
Main Results:
- All conditions involving a PWA delivering information significantly increased students' knowledge about AIDS and prevention compared to control groups.
- Students rated the PWA more positively than the neutral presenter on several evaluative dimensions.
- The mode of HIV transmission significantly mediated perceptions, with the PWA viewed most favorably in heterosexual and transfusion transmission conditions, and less favorably in i.v. drug use and homosexual transmission conditions.
Conclusions:
- A PWA can be an effective source for delivering AIDS education, enhancing knowledge and positive perceptions among college students.
- The specific mode of HIV transmission influences audience perception of the source, impacting the effectiveness of AIDS education programs.
- Educational programs should consider the potential impact of perceived HIV transmission routes on message reception and tailor strategies accordingly.