Document 0582
 DOCN  M9480582
 TI    AIDS hot lines and information agencies. The consistency of their
       information.
 DT    9410
 AU    Baxter JD; Gluckman SJ; Department of Medicine, Cooper
       Hospital/University Medical; Center, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical
       School, Camden.
 SO    Arch Fam Med. 1994 May;3(5):429-36. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94305685
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To determine the consistency of responses given by acquired
       immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) hot lines and AIDS information agencies
       to a standard set of questions related to human immunodeficiency virus
       (HIV) infection and to investigate the training of workers in these
       telephone information agencies. DESIGN: A two-part questionnaire that
       addressed issues of HIV transmission and testing (part 1) and sexual
       behavior, diet, alcohol use, and partner notification (part 2). SETTING:
       Thirty-three AIDS telephone information agencies. PARTICIPANTS:
       Information specialists at these agencies were contacted on multiple
       occasions over a 1-year period. INTERVENTION: Initially, 48 calls were
       made to these agencies. Responses were recorded in the words of the
       information specialists, categorized, and assessed for consistency. Two
       additional surveys using the same questionnaire were also performed,
       examining the variability of responses within an individual agency and
       the variability of responses from six agencies, three with and three
       without formal training of their information specialists. RESULTS: The
       initial survey revealed inconsistencies and inaccuracies in responses
       from AIDS telephone information agencies particularly in the areas of
       HIV testing, risk factor assessment, safe-sex recommendations, and
       life-style changes for infected persons. The second survey revealed
       variability in responses from six information specialists within a
       single agency. The third survey revealed that, overall, agencies with
       and without formal training of workers were equally inconsistent in
       their responses. CONCLUSIONS: There are identifiable deficiencies in the
       quality and consistency of information given by some AIDS telephone
       information agencies. Training procedures of information specialists at
       these agencies are variable and may be inadequate.
 DE    *Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PREVENTION & CONTROL  Adult  Female
       Health Education/*STANDARDS  *Hotlines  Human  HIV Infections/PREVENTION
       & CONTROL  Information Services  Male  Referral and Consultation  United
       States  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).