Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9822

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Slavin S, Batrouney C, Murphy D.
Fear appeals and treatment side-effects: an effective combination for HIV prevention?
AIDS Care 2007 Jan; 19:(1):130-7
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17129868&query_hl=22&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Abstract:

Recent rises in the incidence of HIV infections among gay men in Australia have produced widespread discussion about appropriate health promotion responses. This has sometimes included calls for a return to fear-based campaigns, exemplified by the Grim Reaper advertisements in HIV. This paper discusses results from four focus groups that tested mock campaign material based on an appeal to fear. Five different poster images were tested among groups distinguished by age and HIV serostatus. Three posters used side-effects from treatments as the fear trigger and two used death from AIDS. A number of themes arose in response to the material including ‘othering’, shame and scepticism about HIV treatments. The meanings of these themes are explored in the light of current health-promotion theory. This data demonstrates that fear is an ineffective tool for HIV health promotion. It further demonstrates that feelings of shame and stigma are likely to be exacerbated in gay men, leading to poorer health outcomes in various ways.

Keywords:
MeSH Terms: Adult Advertising/methods* Anti-Retroviral Agents/adverse effects Fear/psychology* Focus Groups HIV Infections/prevention & control* HIV Infections/psychology Health Promotion/methods* Homosexuality, Male/psychology* Humans Male New South Wales/epidemiology Substances: Anti-Retroviral Agents