Evaluation of the impact of news coverage of an HIV multiclass drug-resistant cluster in Seattle, Washington.
Am J Public Health
; 99 Suppl 1: S131-6, 2009 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19218180
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
In February 2007, Public Health-Seattle and King County issued a press release describing a cluster of multiclass drug-resistant HIV cases among men who had sex with men (MSM). We evaluated the effect of the press release among MSM in the Seattle area.METHODS:
We administered a rapid assessment survey at venues where MSM congregate. Eligible participants were men who had sex with men in the past year, were older than 18 years, and were residents of western Washington State.RESULTS:
Among 325 participants, 57% heard or saw messages related to the press release. Of these, 87% remembered 1 or more key points, but only 5% remembered key prevention messages. Ninety-eight percent of participants thought it was important for the health department to get the message out about drug-resistant HIV.CONCLUSIONS:
The press release was found to be a useful and well-received method to inform the public about an HIV drug-resistant cluster. Low retention and nonprominent coverage of key prevention messages suggests that health departments using press releases as a prevention tool need to carefully consider placement and emphasis of those messages in a press statement.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Perception
/
Cluster Analysis
/
HIV Infections
/
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
/
Homosexuality, Male
/
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral
/
Newspapers as Topic
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Public Health
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States