Evaluating the Outcomes of AIDS Education

• NCJ Number: 126487
• Journal: AIDS Education and Prevention Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 71-84
• Author(s): R A Bell; T B Feldmann; S Grissom; F E Purifoy; J J Stephenson; H Deines; R Frierson; A Gould; L Hunt; J Hyde; J Kersey; P Lacefield; A Schweinhart; D Teller; P Walker
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 14 pages
• Contract Number(s): 278-88-0015
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper describes an evaluation of AIDS training sessions for a demographically representative sample of 3,966 United States health care trainees through pretest and posttest questionnaires. The study focused in particular on determining correct answers to questions on AIDS transmission and on examining the relationship between trainee's self-confidence and self-assessment of ability to provide knowledge and actual knowledge acquisition.

Abstract

The hour-long training session consisted of a combined video, lecture, discussion, and question-and-answer format. The results show increased knowledge about AIDS transmission and increased self-confidence and self-assessment in some of the trainees. In addition the results indicate wide variances in the learning outcomes. Some trainees retained either correct or incorrect responses, while others changed from one incorrect response to another, or showed resistance to change. Questions pertaining to casual contact transmission such as sharing a glass or food with a person infected with HIV demonstrated the greatest learning, whereas questions about HIV transmission through blood transfusions, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and mosquito bites showed most resistance to learning. Thus, repeated training sessions utilizing various approaches are recommended to meet the diverse needs of trainees. 8 tables and 20 references (Author abstract modified)