PERCEIVED EDUCATION NEEDS OF HIV ANTIBODY POSITIVE ADULTS.
Contributors: University of South Dakota.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 353
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Adult and Continuing.
Description: The purpose of the study. It was the purpose of the study to explore the perceived learning needs of the HIV antibody positive person.

Procedures of the study. The sample was 100 HIV antibody positive adults who were over the age of twenty, and who lived in one of nine metropolitan communities in the central and west central United States.

A descriptive study design was used. Respondents were asked to complete a three part questionnaire about information related to being HIV antibody positive; ranking nine items first according to present knowledge, and then according to perception of biggest problem; rating twenty-six items using a Likert scale; and then reporting demographic characteristics.

Data was analyzed using the Computer Center at The University of South Dakota to determine: (1) learning needs stated by HIV antibody positive people; (2) relationship between specific demographic characteristics and importance of receiving more information; (3) relationship between the learning needs identified by the HIV antibody positive person; (4) relationship between specific demographic characteristics and ranking of biggest problem; and (5) relationship between ranking of present knowledge level and ranking of biggest problem.

Conclusions. The analysis of data led to the conclusions that respondents wanted least information about drug use and understanding safe contact. They were most interested in having information about discrimination, illness prevention, sex, support groups, telling family and health care providers, and understanding the disease.

The more years of education respondents had, the less interested they were in information about drugs, telling people they live with about their HIV status, donating body fluids or tissue, and sharing personal items. The older the individual, the less interested respondents were in information related to sexual contact and in telling the people they live with about their HIV status.

Responses to items in the questionnaire factored into four groups related to safe contact, safe sex, telling others, and drugs and discrimination. There was an inverse relationship between three rank areas of knowledge and biggest problems including: (1) finding support groups, (2) telling family and friends, and (3) understanding the disease. Demographic characteristics could not predict variation in respondent rating of need for more information.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-11, Section: B, page: 4984.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA, 1989.

School code: 0203.