H.I.V.: An Informed Decision

Designed for use by health care professionals as part of the pre-test counseling program for H.I.V. testing, H.I.V.: An Informed Decision is a good program which succinctly covers several topics of interest to people who are planning to take the test. The program defines the difference between H.I.V. and AIDS, discusses ways of transmitting the virus and dismisses the rumored ways of transmission, describes how the test is performed, talks about what positive and negative results mean, alerts viewers as to the rights and responsibilities of patients, and offers support advice. The program also discusses who is at risk, and talks about the benefits of early testing. Since "testing" details are usually not covered in AIDS-related video programming, this is a needed program on an important subject. The solid information, presented in an evenhanded manner, make this a good choice for libraries--with the only drawback being that the tape is intended for a professional health care setting (towards the end of the program, the narrators mention the "booklet you are about to receive," which is presumably available from one's doctor.) Recommended. (Available from: Health Communications Productions, Inc., 255 East Brown St., Suite 400, Birmingham, MI 48009.)