Do videotapes improve knowledge and attitudes about AIDS?

Three popular videotapes were assessed for their effectiveness in improving knowledge and attitudes about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). One hundred forty-four university students completed knowledge and attitude questionnaires and then watched either an AIDS or a control tape. Half the students completed posttest questionnaires immediately after seeing the tape, and half were tested 1 month later. Students who viewed an AIDS tape showed increased knowledge at immediate and 1-month posttesting (p less than .01); the amount of increase declined over the month, however (p = .012). Students who saw two of the AIDS tapes showed an increase in compassion toward people with AIDS when tested immediately after the tape (p less than .01); but 1 month later, only those students who had viewed a third AIDS tape showed an increase in compassion (p less than .01). The AIDS tapes failed to bring about improvements in attitudes toward preventive behavior. The authors concluded that tapes about AIDS can lead to modest changes in knowledge and perhaps in attitudes; more significant changes, however, probably depend on multimedia interventions that include guided discussions as well as audiovisual and other components.     

The health belief model and the contraceptive behavior of college women: implications for health education

This study applied the "health belief model" in a comparison of the subjective perceptions, attitudes and beliefs between college women who were adequate or inadequate contraceptors. The 171 sexually active subjects were ascertained from clients of the Family Planning Clinic at the University of Illinois. A questionnaire was designed and tested to measure variables of perceived susceptibility to pregnancy, seriousness of unplanned pregnancy, benefits and barriers of contraceptive use. Inadequate contraceptors or risk-takers were defined as women who used no contraception, less effective methods such as rhythm, spermicides only or withdrawal, or effective methods sporadically. 49.5% of the subjects were risk-takers. Among the inadequate contraceptors, 17% were nonusers, 29% relied on ineffective methods, and 52% used effective methods sporadically. There was no difference between the 2 groups in their belief in seriousness of an unplanned pregnancy. The groups differed significantly in their perceived susceptibility to pregnancy (p.001). They also differed significantly in perception of overall costs and benefits of contraception (p.001), a score created by combining 12 questions on topics such as difficulty and embarrassment in obtaining contraceptives and inconvenience and awkwardness in dealing with them. There was a smaller significant difference (p.05) in a score termed "general use cost benefits," but no difference in a score called "method specific perceptions." These results were corroborated by a discriminate analysis which singled out the perceived costs and benefits and the perceived susceptibility variables as accurate predictors of the adequate contraceptor group. The health belief model showed considerable utility in explaining contraceptive behavior.     

What is the impact of a campus AIDS education course?

To meet a graduation requirement at a state university, 225 students took a 1-semester interdisciplinary course on AIDS. In addition to lectures, readings, and recitation sections, all the students participated in three small-group discussions of their feelings on AIDS-related issues. Students in other courses at the same university served as controls. Anonymous questionnaires were administered before and after the course to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to AIDS. When compared with the control group, students in the course had become more knowledgeable about the disease, less fearful of AIDS, and less homophobic. They perceived the AIDS epidemic as more severe than they did before the course, but they were more likely to believe that effective preventive measures were possible. They were also more likely to believe that others in their peer group were taking action to prevent HIV infection. There was no significant increase in either the experimental or the control group in the students' belief that they were personally vulnerable to AIDS, nor was there any statistically significant change in AIDS-related sexual or drug-abuse behaviors.     

John Money,Ph.D

It was hypothesized that knowledge of venereal disease is correlated with attitudes toward seeking treatment and willingness to prevent the spread of infection. A questionnaire containing knowledge, attitude, and demographic items was distributed to a random sample of 700 college students in four New York City colleges. Results from the 547 completed questionnaires suggested that the majority of the students lacked adequate knowledge of venereal disease. Significant but low positive correlations between knowledge and attitude were obtained for some sub‐groups of the sample. A consistent negative relationship between perceived knowledge and actual knowledge was found. Implications related to sexual behavior and venereal disease education are discussed.     

Barrier versus oral contraceptive use: a study of female college students

Although they provide birth control and are easier to use, oral contraceptives (OCPs) are not the preferred approach to preventing sexually transmitted disease (STD). Do the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of oral contraceptive users place them at greater risk for STDs than those who employ barrier methods? This study examined differences between sexually active female college students (ie, those who reported ever having had vaginal intercourse) who used OCPs and those who employed barrier methods of contraception at the time of their most recent intercourse. The authors analyzed HIV- and other STD-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors from three consecutive annual health surveys of young women about to begin their first year of college. Findings showed barrier and OCP users to be comparable in knowledge about the effectiveness of various contraceptive methods in protecting them against STDs, perceived personal susceptibility to HIV, and experiences with alcohol before sexual intercourse. Oral contraceptive users, compared with those in the group who used barrier methods, reported a greater number of recent partners (p less than .03) and greater perceived vulnerability to STDs (p less than .03). Student healthcare providers must develop creative educational strategies to encourage simultaneous use of both oral contraceptives and barrier methods to protect students against STDs and pregnancy.     

Susceptibility to AIDS: what college students do and don't believe

In-depth, qualitative discussion using the nominal group technique examined freshmen's perceived susceptibility to AIDS and barriers to prevention. Groups were led by dormitory resident advisors as a follow-up to a survey questionnaire of college students' knowledge and beliefs about AIDS. Students' comments showed that many misunderstandings lay behind an apparent understanding of the facts about AIDS. These findings underscore how imperative it is that college health education programs be attuned to the needs and address the deficiencies of the particular student body. In-depth, qualitative research techniques such as the nominal group are described as useful in tailoring AIDS prevention to the specific campus audience and are an appropriate introduction to an AIDS-education session. Suggestions, based on students' comments, are made for improving AIDS-prevention programs on campus.     

College student perceptions on campus alcohol policies and consumption patterns

Environmental strategies for colleges and universities to reduce alcohol consumption among their students include the development and enforcement of campus alcohol policies. This study examines students' knowledge and attitudes toward campus alcohol policies and how they relate to alcohol consumption and alcohol social norms. A sample of 422 freshman students was surveyed during their first month at a 4-year public college. Findings indicated that the majority of students (89%) were aware of campus policies, yet of those who were aware, less than half (44%) were accepting of these campus rules and regulations. In addition, the majority (79%) of students drank at social events, despite this behavior being in direct violation of campus alcohol policies. However, those who supported campus rules consumed significantly less alcohol at social events than those who opposed or had no opinion of the rules. Also, those who supported the rules perceived that their peers and students in general consumed significantly less alcohol at social events than those who were opposed or had no opinion. This outcome supports the premise established by several theories of behavior change including the theory of planned behavior, which state that behavior is influenced less by knowledge than by attitude and intention.     

Undergraduate Students' Attributions of Depicted Adult–Adolescent and Adolescent–Adolescent Sexual Interactions

The grayest areas of defining child sexual abuse appear to involve the age and sex of the individuals involved, resulting in a potential for different attributions regarding child sexual abuse across individuals. As a result, this study examines the responses of 262 male and female college student participants after viewing a series of hypothetical sexual abuse vignettes that depicted a 15-year-old victim that neither resisted nor encouraged the advances of a 15-, 25-, or 35-year-old perpetrator's actions. Gender roles and sexual attitudes were examined as potentially important covariates. Using a series of analyses of covariance, female participants gave more pro-victim ratings than male participants, and younger perpetrators were viewed less negatively than older perpetrators. Gender roles and sexual attitudes served as significant covariates. These findings emphasized the need to educate individuals about child sexual abuse and unwanted sexual contact involving individuals under the age of consent.     

Undergraduate students' attributions of depicted adult-adolescent and adolescent-adolescent sexual interactions

The grayest areas of defining child sexual abuse appear to involve the age and sex of the individuals involved, resulting in a potential for different attributions regarding child sexual abuse across individuals. As a result, this study examines the responses of 262 male and female college student participants after viewing a series of hypothetical sexual abuse vignettes that depicted a 15-year-old victim that neither resisted nor encouraged the advances of a 15-, 25-, or 35-year-old perpetrator's actions. Gender roles and sexual attitudes were examined as potentially important covariates. Using a series of analyses of covariance, female participants gave more pro-victim ratings than male participants, and younger perpetrators were viewed less negatively than older perpetrators. Gender roles and sexual attitudes served as significant covariates. These findings emphasized the need to educate individuals about child sexual abuse and unwanted sexual contact involving individuals under the age of consent.     

Evaluation of school‐based AIDS education curricula in San Francisco

Students in 3 middle (n=385) and 3 high schools (n=254) in the San Francisco Unified School District participated in the evaluation of an AIDS education curriculum. Classes within‐schools were designated as either intervention classes or nonintervention classes. Students in intervention classes received 3 class periods of AIDS instruction with a newly developed curriculum. Students in nonintervention classes did not receive any special AIDS instruction. All students completed a pretest and posttest AIDS knowledge and attitude survey. The results indicated that AIDS instruction classes demonstrated a significant knowledge‐advantage, as well as change in attitudes (e.g., reflecting greater tolerance for attending class with students who may have AIDS or HIV infection).     

Effects of a peer-led AIDS intervention with university students

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a major health threat to university students. This study evaluated a peer-led AIDS intervention program with university students (1) increase knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and infection; (2) change attitudes to reflect scientific information on AIDS-related facts; and (3) change behavioral intentions to correspond with safer sexual practices. Subjects were students (N = 142) from four undergraduate classes and were predominantly female (65%), white (82%), and sexually active (86%). A non-equivalent control group design was used, with two classes receiving the intervention and two classes receiving no information. For the intervention, peer educators presented AIDS-related information, modeled ways to use condoms safely and ways to discuss condom use with sexual partners, and led discussions on HIV infection and use with sexual partners, and led discussions on HIV infection and AIDS, relationships, sexuality, and condom use. A questionnaire was administered to assess differential changes in AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions between the intervention and control groups. The results showed significant improvements among intervention subjects on the knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions scales compared with the control group.     

Artifact in client satisfaction assessment: experience in community mental health settings

Artifact in client satisfaction assessment is discussed and the results of a study of three factors thought to mediate client satisfaction ratings; (a) general life satisfaction, (b) mode of administration, and (c) psychological symptomatology, are reported. A standard client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ) was modified to yield parallel forms and was administered orally and in writing to 92 clients in two mental health day treatment programs. Satisfaction ratings obtained from these clients were quite similar to out-patient ratings obtained in previous studies conducted in this setting and using the same measures. Oral administration of the CSQ produced 10% higher satisfaction ratings than written administration (p less than .05) and less missing data (p less than .01). Satisfaction ratings were also obtained using a simple graphic instrument. Graphic ratings were comparable to CSQ ratings. Satisfaction with life in general and level of psychiatric symptoms together accounted for 25% of CSQ variance. The implication of these findings for future client satisfaction research is discussed.     

Reducing Public Misinformation About Organ Donation: An Experimental Intervention

Abstract

The shortage of life-saving human organs for transplantation today is a growing and international problem. A recent survey in this Journal found that people with “more accurate information about organ donation practices are more likely to be organ donors (r= .225, p< .01)” (Nickols, Stack, Viviano, & Whitney, 2008, p. 240). How much can a factual 20-minute message about organ donation significantly increase people's knowledge and pro-donation behavior? In this field experiment, 101 students in two urban colleges completed a one-page survey before and after an expert's 20-minute message. The survey assessed participants' knowledge about organ donation from 0 (low) to 40 (high), biodata, self-reported experiences, and behavior in the past (registered organ donor) and future (consider becoming a donor). As hypothesized: (1) Pre-message knowledge about organ donation was moderate (mean = 21.8 on the 0-40 scale), and rose significantly after the message (mean = 28.6, p < .01). (2) This knowledge positively correlated with consideration to register in the future as an organ donor (r = +.41; p < .001 post-presentation). (3) However, there was no significant correlation of prior donor registration with knowledge prior to the message (r = +.08) or after the message (r = +.04). From these findings, it seems a brief FAQ fact-sheet or DVD would be highly useful to increase people's accurate knowledge about donations.     

A psychoanalytic study of contraception

The purpose of this study was to evaluate three sets of predictors of attitudes toward homosexuality: (a) anti‐black and orthodox religious attitudes, (b) sexual permissiveness, and (c) the effect of an introductory human sexuality course. Significantly more positive attitudes were expected for those holding more positive attitudes toward blacks and those who were more sexually permissive. A negative relationship was expected for those holding orthodox religious attitudes. Furthermore, information from a college course in human sexuality was expected to produce positive attitude change toward homosexuality. A survey instrument consisting of several scales and indexes measuring the aforementioned variables, as well as several indexes of sexual behavior, was administered to 194 students in a human sexuality course and 120 students in an introductory psychology course. Results showed significant regression coefficients for anti‐black attitudes and religious orthodoxy, confirming the predictions. Sexual permissiveness did not significantly add to the prediction of attitudes toward homosexuality, although the Pearson correlation was significant, r = .19 (p < .05). The experimental group showed significantly greater change in attitude toward homosexuality than the control group, F(1, 291) = 23.70, p < .001. A fourth objective was to assess sex differences on a series of sexual behavioral indexes. Results show a number of significant differences suggesting that sexual behavior still reflects a double standard in U.S. society.     

A validity scale for the Sharp consumer satisfaction scales.

Because of the apparently inflated scores commonly reported for consumer satisfaction with mental health services, we developed a 5-item validity scale for the SHARP questionnaire. The scale discriminated significantly (P less than .001) between those former clients who offered suggestions for improvement of services and those who did not (N = 38). In another experiment, the scale significantly improved the ability to predict the 46 clients' true scores from their obtained scores via stepwise regression (p less than .01). Weights were obtained from that sample of former clients, which significantly reduced the deviation of the obtained satisfaction scores from the true scores, with all p less than .05. In two successive experiments (N = 49 and 26), weights were applied to new samples, significantly reducing deviation from the criterion scores for 5 of the 6 scales (p less than .05), and new weights were then derived. A final set of weights was derived from the combined samples of the three experiments, (N = 121) which significantly improved prediction of the criterion and lowered the mean on all scales, with all p less than .05.     

Training in Family Assessment: A Comparison of Three Teaching Methods*

Three methods of training in family assessment were evaluated. Method I employed traditional classroom lecture along with demonstration videotapes prepared by faculty. Method II used small group discussion with the same videotapes. Method III incorporated an experiential task in which the students conducted a family interview and presented their own videotapes for small group discussion. Parallel pre and post tests were developed to measure knowledge and skills in family assessment. Results showed a significant gain in scores between pre and post measures, but the gains did not differ significantly between the three teaching methods. Logistic considerations led to the conclusion that the method of choice is Method I.     

An impact evaluation of student teacher training in HIV/AIDS education in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe introduced a nation-wide program to teach AIDS education in 1994. This paper evaluates changes in student teachers' level of knowledge about transmission, symptoms and prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS; their attitude towards persons living with AIDS; and their sensitivity to the impact of the epidemic and to discussing and teaching about these issues. There was an increase in knowledge of HIV prevention and in teachers' ability to discuss reproductive health and sexual issues. However, as students were exposed to other HIV material outside the programme, not all of this change is due to the programme. Course attendance needed to be enforced and the curriculum needed to be updated with student participation. Peer educators and participatory techniques are needed to get students to internalise positive attitudes and behaviour. The education materials need to address the lack of female empowerment in making decisions and negotiating for safer sex.     

EXPOsing Men's Gender Role Attitudes as Porn Superfans

Much contemporary debate about pornography centers on its role in portraying and perpetuating gender inequality. This article compares traditional gendered attitudes between cisgender men attending the Adult Entertainment Expo (n = 294) and a random sample of male respondents from the 2016 General Social Survey (GSS), a U.S. representative survey of general attitudes and beliefs collected every two years (n = 863). Our survey borrowed questions from the GSS to measure attitudes about gender equality across four dimensions: (1) working mothers, (2) women in politics, (3) traditional gender roles in the family, and (4) affirmative action for women in the workplace. Through bivariate analyses, we found that “porn superfans” are no more sexist or misogynistic than the general U.S. public on two of the four measures (women in politics and women in the general workplace) and held more progressive gender‐role attitudes than the general public on the other two measures. We conducted binary logistic regressions for those two measures to determine if the relationship remained significant when controlling for other factors. For one dimension, working mothers, it did (p < .001). Our results call into question some of the claims that porn consumption fosters de facto negative and hostile attitudes toward women.     

Intensity of Case Management Services

ABSTRACT

In a systematic sample of Florida-licensed clinical social workers (N = 273), this study investigated the correlates of perceived adequacy to work with elders with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Five predictor variables were identified from a standard regression analysis that account for 35.7% of the model's adjusted variance: (a) employment with elders (Beta = .225, p = .000), (b) years of experience (Beta = -.125, p = .018), (c) attitude toward working with elders with Alzheimer's disease (Beta = .351, p = .000), (d) perceived sufficiency of professional education to work with elders with Alzheimer's disease (Beta = .178, p = .002), and (e) attitude toward the delivery of nonclinical services to elders with Alzheimer's disease (Beta = .192, p = .000). Overall, respondents perceived their abilities to work with elders as slightly less than adequate. Implications are discussed.