Fear of dying and HIV infection vs hepatitis B infection.
Accidental exposure to the blood of hepatitis B patients produced less fear than does accidental exposure today to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), even though both have an approximately equal overall risk of death (approximately 1%). Subjects responding to hypothetical insect-exposure and disease-exposure scenarios chose to avoid the HIV-type risk of 1% chance of exposure/100% chance of death. Fear of certain death seems to account for the greater concern about exposure to HIV than to Hepatitis B.
Schneiderman
L J
LJ
Department of Community & Family Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0622.
Kaplan
R M
RM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002140:California; D003657:Decision Making; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006281:Health Occupations; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities