HIVAIDS and Popular Culture: A New Webbased Educational Tool

1
W-007
HIV/AIDS and Popular Culture A New Web-based
Educational Tool
David R. Wessner, Anna G. Harger, and Emily B.
Wilson, Davidson College
Abstract
Methods and Results

• Web site was created using Macromedia
  Dreamweaver MX, iMovie, Sony Media-Vegas, and
  VirtualDub
• First year undergraduate students were randomly
  assigned to two groups
• One group of students received only a
  questionnaire about HIV/AIDS the other group
  received the link to the web site in addition to
  the questionnaire
• Results of subjective questions were pooled and
  assessed only for trends
• Percentage of objective questions that each
  participant answered correctly was calculated and
  assessed for significance
• Mean percentages were compared using Excels
  Two-Sample t-Test assuming equal variance

New infections of HIV/AIDS continue to occur,
especially among people between 15 and 24 years
of age. Teaching young people about this disease,
then, is as important today as it ever has been.
To address this need for improved HIV/AIDS
education, we have developed a web site to
disseminate information about HIV/AIDS through
art, music, television, and film
(www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/aidspopculture).
The web site displays images and video and audio
clips in a chronological manner and also contains
information about the artists. Additionally,
information about the major scientific
advancements for each period is provided. Using
this multi-media web site as a teaching tool for
HIV/AIDS education may be effective for two
reasons. First, all people with Internet access
are able to view publicly available web site
materials. Second, the presentation of HIV/AIDS
information within the context of popular culture
may better convey this information to people who
have not been reached by traditional HIV/AIDS
education methods. To demonstrate the
effectiveness of this web site, we assessed its
impact on groups of first year college students.
An anonymous questionnaire addressing HIV/AIDS
knowledge and awareness was given to each
participant. Students who saw the web site prior
to taking the survey, demonstrated an increased
knowledge of the biology of HIV/AIDS and an
increased interest in the pandemic. With this
multi-media web site, then, we have developed an
effective HIV/AIDS educational tool that should
be useful in academic environments and as an
information source for the general public.
Home page for HIV/AIDS in Popular Culture web
site. The URL of this page is http//www.bio.davi
dson.edu/projects/aidspopculture
Description of Web Site
As shown above, the web site presents information
about HIV/AIDS in a chronological fashion. For
each range of years, artistic images, audio
clips, and video clips dealing with HIV/AIDS are
accessible from pull-down menus. Information
about the particular items also are provided.
Additionally, scientific information about
HIV/AIDS is provided for each range of years.
With web site n 36 Without web site n 67
Students that strongly or somewhat agree
indicate greater HIV/AIDS awareness and interest.
With web site n36, Without web site n 67
Error bars 2standard error. t-test n101, p
0.015197416 (transmission), 0.000202201
(treatment), 0.038905299 (general knowledge).
Introduction
Conclusions and Future Directions

• Despite increased education and outreach
  programs, the rate of new HIV infections
  continues to rise
• New infections of HIV/AIDS are particularly
  acute among people 15 to 24 years of age
• New paradigms for HIV education, especially ones
  more attractive to younger people, must be
  developed
• As we described previously (The visual art of
  HIV/AIDS. Bioscene Journal of College Science
  Teaching (2003). 2915-21), art may be an
  effective means of reaching younger people
• We propose that another way to improve HIV/AIDS
  education may be through a multi-media web site
  that disseminates information about the disease
  through art, music, television, and film

• Based on our questionnaire, this multi-media web
  site increased undergraduate students knowledge
  of and interest in HIV/AIDS. The overall number
  of correct responses on objective questions
  between the two groups was significantly
  different (p 0.002). Questions about treatment
  options showed the most extreme difference (p
  0.0002). For example, 78 of students who saw the
  web site correctly identified AZT as the first
  approved antiretroviral drug, while only 31 of
  students who had not viewed the web site
  correctly identified this drug. This web site,
  then, seems to be a very effective means of
  disseminating information about HIV/AIDS.
• In the future, we will
• Update the art, music, video, and science
  sections as new materials and findings become
  available
• Provide the URL and information about the site
  to community organizations interested in HIV/AIDS
  education and outreach
• Continue to test the effectiveness of the site

Journal containing student co-authored paper
An internal page of the web site displaying the
pull-down menus for TV and film clips of 1990
through 1995