INTERACTIVE VIDEO PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF HIV ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME PREVALENCE RATES AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT TARGET GROUPS FOR PREVENTION EFFORTS. WE WILL PRODUCE A SETOF INTERACTIVE VIDEO PROGRAMS WHICH PROMOTE SAFER SEXUAL PRACTICES BY (A) PROVIDING THE SKILLS AND INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE COMPETENT DECISIONS AND (B) TEACHING THE SOCIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO SAFELY DEAL WITH SEXUAL SITUATIONS. THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS WITH THE VIDEO PROGRAM, END-USERS WILL DIRECT THE COURSE OF THE DEPICTED RELATIONSHIP, MAKING CHOICES FOR THE COUPLE, AND VIEWING THECONSEQUENCES. ANALYSIS OF CHOICES MADE WILL PERMIT EVALUATION OF NEED FOR REMEDIATION, AND A VIDEO SEGMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO AMELIORATE DEFICITS WILL BE PRESENTED. THE AIMS OF PHASE I ARE TO: (A) DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF OUR "FOCUS GROUP" APPROACH TO THE PRODUCTION OF REALISTIC VIGNETTES, AND (B) PRODUCE A PROGRAM SEGMENT ONINTERACTIVE VIDEODISC WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE USE OF A USER-CONTROLLED BRANCHING STORY-LINE, WITH BUILT-IN REMEDIATION FOR UNSAFE CHOICES. SIX PROGRAM TRACKS ARE PLANNED, TARGETING GROUPS BY ETHNICITY AND AGE (WHITE, BLACK, HISPANIC; ADOLESCENT, YOUNG ADULT). PHASE I WILL FOCUS ON DEVELOPING A PROGRAM FOR WHITE-ADOLESCENTS, AND PHASE II WILL COMPLETE PROGRAM PRODUCTION FOR ALL SIX TARGETPOPULATIONS.