Document 0615
 DOCN  M9460615
 TI    Family physicians' support for school-based HIV prevention education
       programs.
 DT    9404
 AU    Ryan JG; Fowler GC; Aday LA; Miller SM; Department of Family Practice
       and Community Medicine, University; of Texas-Houston Medical School.
 SO    Arch Fam Med. 1993 Jun;2(6):637-44. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94163364
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To identify the extent to which family physicians support
       school-based education programs regarding the human immunodeficiency
       virus (HIV). Sexually active adolescents are at risk for infection with
       HIV. Education programs on HIV that target this vulnerable group
       effectively prevent infection, yet family physicians are often not
       directly involved in the design and implementation of such programs.
       DESIGN: A systematic random sample of 2660 members of the American
       Academy of Family Physicians was surveyed using a mailed questionnaire
       to assess clinical experiences with HIV disease, willingness to provide
       HIV treatment, and support for school-based HIV education programs. The
       response rate was 63.7%. Poststratification weights were applied to
       adjust for the slight under-representation of non-board-certified
       physicians in the study sample. RESULTS: Support for school-based HIV
       counseling programs was overwhelmingly positive. The mean level of
       support was 1.28 (with 1 indicating strong approval and 4 strong
       disapproval). Physicians' attitudes toward programs that include condom
       availability were marginally less favorable (1.92). Residency trained (P
       = .009) and female physicians (P = .010) expressed the greatest support
       for school-based programs. Physicians with fewer professional concerns
       about providing direct HIV patient care (P = .030) and who believed that
       communication with their patients about sexuality was an acceptable
       component of clinical care (P < .001) were most likely to support
       school-based programs. CONCLUSIONS: Family physicians can play an
       important role in designing and implementing HIV education programs. The
       results of these analyses suggest family physicians may be relied on to
       endorse school-based HIV prevention programs, including programs that
       make condoms available to adolescents. School and public health
       authorities should enlist family physicians' assistance when planning
       and implementing these or related community-based HIV education
       activities.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Adolescence
       Adolescent Behavior  *Attitude of Health Personnel  Condoms  Counseling
       Data Collection  Female  *Health Education  Human  Male  Physicians,
       Family/*PSYCHOLOGY  *School Health Services  Sex Behavior  Support,
       Non-U.S. Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  United States  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

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