Children's perceptions of peers with AIDS: assessing the impact of contagion information, perceived similarity, and illness conceptualization.

Assessed factors that affected acceptance of a hypothetical peer with AIDS. Children in Grades 4-6 read vignettes containing one of four levels of contagion information and one of two levels of perceived similarity. Illness conceptualization was measured as a continuous variable. Results indicated that the type of AIDS information given to children affected their perception of the peer. Specifically, informing children about the modes of HIV transmission was not sufficient to increase acceptance, but clearing misconceptions by describing ways HIV is not transmitted positively affected children's reactions to the peer. No other significant results were found. Results of the current study have clear and practical implications for AIDS education programs in schools.

Psychosocial policies in hospitals serving children: comparative characteristics.

This investigation identified and assessed the extent to which hospitals are implementing psychosocial services to meet the needs of children and their families. Following up a similar survey in 1981, a comprehensive questionnaire was sent to the directors of pediatric nursing at pediatric hospitals and general hospitals with pediatric residency programs in the U.S. and Canada. Data were analyzed in a variety of ways to determine the relation between characteristics of pediatric hospitals and general hospitals; Canadian and U.S. hospitals; and hospitals with short, medium, and long lengths of pediatric patient stay. Overall, pediatric hospitals provided more psychosocial services than did general hospitals, and more of these services were implemented in 1988 as compared to 1981. No consistent trends were evident among hospitals when countries or lengths of pediatric patient stay were compared.