An intervention to promote HIV antibody testing among college students

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Michele W. Mathis (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
Advisor
Katherine Bruce

Abstract: The present study tests the effectiveness of short videotaped messages about HIV antibody testing at promoting HIV testing in a college student population by using four videotape conditions: fear arousal, internal attribution, information only, and a first-aid control video. Male and female participants (n = 163) were recruited and tested in groups of 2 – 14 students. Each participant completed a battery of personality measures including Health Locus of Control, Sexual Opinion Survey, Sensation-Seeking, Selfesteem, Health Self-efficacy, and Social Desirability as well as the HIV Testing Attitude Scale and a demographic questionnaire prior to viewing the video. The HIV Testing Attitude Scale and demographic questionnaire were administered after the video to examine immediate effects and at a follow-up session to examine long-term effects. Results indicate there was a decrease in perceived susceptibility to HIV infection for participants in the Fear Arousal videotape condition. In addition, self-reported selfefficacy with regard to condom use increased after participants viewed the Fear Arousal videotape. These effects were not observed in any of the other videotape conditions. This suggests that while the Fear Arousal videotape demonstrated some interesting effects, the other videotape conditions fail to make much difference in participant’s responses. This is discussed in relation to the extant literature.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
College students--Diseases, Health attitudes--Testing, Health education, HIV antibodies--Testing
Subjects
HIV antibodies -- Testing
College students -- Diseases
Health education
Health attitudes -- Testing

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