Evaluation of the impact of news coverage of an HIV multiclass drug-resistant cluster in Seattle, Washington.
OBJECTIVE
In February 2007, Public Health-Seattle and King County issued a press release describing a cluster of multiclass drug-resistant HIV cases among men who had sex with men (MSM). We evaluated the effect of the press release among MSM in the Seattle area.


METHODS
We administered a rapid assessment survey at venues where MSM congregate. Eligible participants were men who had sex with men in the past year, were older than 18 years, and were residents of western Washington State.


RESULTS
Among 325 participants, 57% heard or saw messages related to the press release. Of these, 87% remembered 1 or more key points, but only 5% remembered key prevention messages. Ninety-eight percent of participants thought it was important for the health department to get the message out about drug-resistant HIV.


CONCLUSIONS
The press release was found to be a useful and well-received method to inform the public about an HIV drug-resistant cluster. Low retention and nonprominent coverage of key prevention messages suggests that health departments using press releases as a prevention tool need to carefully consider placement and emphasis of those messages in a press statement.
Kahle
Erin M
EM
Public Health-Seattle & King County, Seattle, WA, USA. ekahle@u.washington.edu
Barash
Elizabeth A
EA
Page
Libby C
LC
Lansky
Amy
A
Jafa
Krishna
K
Sullivan
Patrick S
PS
Buskin
Susan E
SE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D024921:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009524:Newspapers as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health; D015980:Public Health Practice; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012938:Social Perception; D014861:Washington; D055815:Young Adult