title: Psychometric Properties of a New HIV/AIDS Knowledge Measure for Adults.
abstract: The aim of this study was to develop a new 29-item HIV/AIDS knowledge measure and to examine its psychometric properties for three samples of adults: non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, non-HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The authors collected data using an online questionnaire. A total of 9,349 Italian individuals agreed to participate in the study: 694 individuals (7.4%) were PLWHA, 5,232 (56.0%) were HIV negative, and the remaining 3,423 (36.6%) were MSM. Using two-parameter item response theory analysis, a bifactor model was found to be better fitting than a one-factor model or a 12 correlated first-order factor model. Differential item functioning showed evidence of measurement nonequivalence of the instrument for the three samples of adults. The reliability of HIV/AIDS knowledge scale among PLWHA was satisfactory. Criterion-related validity was only achieved among non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, non-HIV-positive MSM, as the HIV/AIDS knowledge scale was related with attitudes toward condom use, condom use with casual partners, unknown HIV status of partner, and HIV stigma. Among non-HIV-positive heterosexual people, the HIV/AIDS knowledge scale adds to the prediction of condom use above that of attitudes toward condom use scale. The HIV/AIDS knowledge scale is especially discriminating at low to medium levels of knowledge.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Bologna , Cesena , Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Bologna , Cesena , Italy.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Bologna , Cesena , Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pietrantoni
authors.affiliation: b LILA (Italian League for the Fight Against AIDS), Como , Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scudiero
authors.affiliation: b LILA (Italian League for the Fight Against AIDS), Como , Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perone
authors.affiliation: b LILA (Italian League for the Fight Against AIDS), Como , Italy.
authors.forename: Lella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cosmaro
authors.affiliation: b LILA (Italian League for the Fight Against AIDS), Como , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerioli
authors.affiliation: b LILA (Italian League for the Fight Against AIDS), Como , Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oldrini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012747:Sexual Partners; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV testing; HIV/AIDS; IRT; bifactor; condom use; knowledge