HIV Risk Predictors: Cognitive (Lang, 1997)

• Populations: Adolescents, young adults
• Age ranges: 13-19
• Languages: English
• Countries: United States

Items

Subscales

• Factual AIDS Knowledge, 6 Items
• Transmission of AIDS Knowledge, 4 Items
• Perceived AIDS Knowledge, 3 Items
• Misconceptions, 6 Items

Items By Subscale

Factual AIDS Knowledge

• AIDS is a medical condition in which your body cannot fight off diseases.
• AIDS is caused by a virus.
• If a pregnant woman has AIDS, there is a chance it may harm her unborn baby.
• Most people who get AIDS usually die from it.
• Using a condom (rubber) during sex can lower the risk of getting AIDS.
• Receiving a blood transfusion with infected blood can give a person with AIDS.

Transmission of AIDS Knowledge

• A woman who has unprotected sex only with men can get AIDS
• A man who has unprotected sex only with women can get AIDS
• A woman who has unprotected sex only with women can get AIDS
• A man who has unprotected sex only with men can get AIDS

Perceived AIDS Knowledge

• If someone asked me a question about how to prevent getting HIV/AIDS, I can give them the right answer.
• IF someone asked me what things people do that can cause HIV/AIDS, I can tell them the right answer.
• IF someone asked me how HIV/AIDS is transmitted, I can give them the right answer.

Misconceptions

• AIDS can be cured if treated early.
• A new vaccine has been developed which can prevent AIDS.
• You can have AIDS and not know it (R)
• Mosquitoes can transmit AIDS.
• I can avoid getting AIDS by having sex only with healthy looking persons.
• Only gay people and people who use needle drugs can get AIDS.

(R) item is reverse coded.

Scoring

Factual AIDS Knowledge
Scale Range: 1-5; high score indicative of high factual knowledge

Transmission AIDS Knowledge
Scale Range : 1-5; high score indicative of high transmission knowledge

Perceived AIDS Knowledge
Scale Range : 1-5; high score indicative of high perceived knowledge

Misconceptions
Scale Range: 1-5; high score indicative of high misconception

Citations

Lang, Michelle A., “A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Adolescent HIV-Risk Predictors” (1997).
Open Access Dissertations. Paper 984.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/984

Team comments

This measure was developed as part of a set of 4 scales by Lang (1997). 

HIV Risk Predictors Scales:

• Cognitive
• Attitudinal
• Behavioral
• Psychosocial