The goal of the project is to determine whether a videotape module based on validated psychological behavior change principles can contribute with AIDS-related fears that often are impediments to the decision to donate blood and also with the need for high-risk persons to refrain from donating blood. Two populations will be studied: high school students and church members. A videotaped module will be developed for each population and comparisons made between experimental and control groups (subjects who either see the module as part of the regular program). Dependent measures will include attitudes toward blood donation and actual donations. Blood centers' use of the videotaped modules after completion of the intervention period will be monitored to estimate the blood centers' interest in incorporating the specially produced modules into their regular program. Because the need for blood is increasing without a commensurate increase in donations, the topic of donor motivation has particular saliency. This project will use a successful previously developed approach to donor motivation based on social learning principles in an effort to increase donations, allay AIDS-related fears, and communicate the importance of self-deferral among high-risk persons.
