To evaluate a WeChat-based HIV and AIDS educational intervention to enhance knowledge, improve attitudes and reduce stigma among college students in China.
Design:
Randomised controlled trial.
Setting:
Public research university in China.
Method:
A total of 111 college students were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received an enhanced HIV and AIDS education course delivered via WeChat for 8 weeks. Independent-samples t-tests were used to analyse changes in HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and stigma.
Results:
Findings showed that both HIV- and AIDS-related knowledge (p < .001) and attitudes (p < .001) significantly changed in the intervention group. The intervention group also demonstrated lower stigma scores on ‘moral judgment’ (p < .001), ‘personal stigma’ (p = .01), ‘perceived community stigma’ (p < .001) and the ‘total stigma scale’ (p < .001).
Conclusion:
Results show that college students in China may benefit from a technology-based intervention which could potentially be integrated into routine HIV education for college students.
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