The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46091

Kim Batchelor, MPH¹, Doug Kershaw¹, Elisa Ballard, MA¹, Anne Freeman, MSPH², and Ann Robbins, PhD³. (1) Community Prevention and Intervention Unit, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 400 S. Zang, #520, Dallas, TX 75208, 214-944-1065, kim.batchelor@utsouthwestern.edu, (2) Internal Medicine, AIDS Prevention Project, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 400 S. Zang, Suite 520, Dallas, TX 75208, (3) Bureau of HIV/STD Prevention, Texas Department of Health, 1100 W. 49th St, Austin, TX 78756

As part of a project to improve the use of evidence-based interventions in Texas, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Texas Department of Health provided several training opportunities on bridging theory and practice and community-based assessment, and created a web site dedicated to HIV prevention interventions and assessment methods.

METHODOLOGY: In September 2000, 366 written questionnaires were sent to frontline workers and supervisory staff of HIV prevention programs that receive funds from the Texas Department of Health. Of these 366, 135 (37%) of questionnaires were returned. The questions asked measured how much these prevention staff utilize, trust and value different sources of behavioral data and what sources they turn to in the development of their interventions. The questionnaire was repeated post-intervention in February 2002.

RESULTS: The poster will report on the results of the pre- and post-intervention analysis of behavioral data use. The baseline survey also revealed a low-level of "purposeful" intervention design, with only 1% of participants mentioning behavioral theory as a basis for their interventions and 87% limited their responses to information dissemination and distribution of condoms. Along with their use of behavioral data, the poster will report on differences between respondents given their level of utilization of the training opportunities and web site.

Learning Objectives: