AIDS EDUCATION INTERVENTION UTILIZING A PERSON WITH AIDS - EXAMINATION AND CLARIFICATION

The utility of a person with AIDS (PWA) in conveying AIDS information to college students is assessed. Mode of transmission of HIV is propos ed to serve as a moderating variable in students' receptivity to the A IDS information and perception of the source of AIDS information. Two- hundred-sixty undergraduate students received a standardized lecture b y a confederate, posing as a PWA, who revealed HN positive status thro ugh either heterosexual transmission, homosexual transmission, needle- sharing, or a blood transfusion. Control conditions received the lectu re from a neutral presenter (no HIV status disclosure) or no contact, All the HIV conditions were superior to the Control condition in incre asing knowledge about AIDS and AIDS prevention. Additionally, students rated the PWA more positively than the neutral presenter on a number of evaluative dimensions, Mode of transmission served a mediating effe ct, with the confederate viewed most favorably in the Heterosexual and Transfusion conditions, and less favorably in the IV Drug and Homosex ual conditions. Implications for educational programs are discussed.