title: Construction and validation of the Scale Sources of Information about AIDS (SSIA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize sources of information students of higher education turn to for clarification about AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, non-experimental research, with the features of descriptive, correlational and explanatory studies. The data collection protocol includes personal and academic data and the sources of information about AIDS scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  2002 students participated, 60.7% girls (X=21.76; years ± 4.43 SD), of the first and last years of higher education in the North and Centre of Portugal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students rely mainly on reading informational materials for information about AIDS. Approximately 37% have good information on AIDS with young people up to the age of 25 and attending courses in field of health having higher scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes are needed in health education models in the area of HIV/AIDS, since these are not showing a satisfactory level of efficiency. On the other hand, it is important to motivate young people to change their behaviours. Although many young people have knowledge, they do not change their risk behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal. Electronic address: claudiachaves21@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelas
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D063005:Health Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Health knowledge; Students