Guest guest Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Abstract: A study on the utilization of a peer to peer, HIV/AIDS related electronic discussion forum: Result of the survey of AIDS INDIA e FORUM: Joe . Editor/Moderator, AIDS INDIA e FORUM / Peer to peer electronic FORUMS have evolved as an effective tool for information and communication. This study report the findings of the effectiveness of a peer to peer, HIV/AIDS related electronic discussion group. AIDS INDIA e FORUM is one of the largest e FORUM with more than 4,600 subscribes who received 5-6 HIV/AIDS messages, information and communication on a daily basis for the last six years. This project is run on a Zero Budget. Accredited for Health on Net Code (HON Code) of trustworthy health information. Method. A brief questionnaire was send to all the subscribers during December 2006. The time frame to respond to the questions were one month an a reminder was send after 15 days. Results. 118 valid responses were received. 24% of the respondents were counsellors and social workers 8% were civil servants. 84% of the respondents were from India. 35% of the respondents were women and 64 % men. 37% of the respondents were 30-39 age category and 34% were belongs to 40-49 age bracket. 1) Rating of the FORUM 42% of the respondents rated the forum as excellent- as the overall value of AIDS INDIA e FORUM as a regular source of AIDS related information. 49% reported it as a `GOOD' source of information. 2) % of the messages read by the respondents 42% of the respondents read all or almost all (75-100%) of the messages weekly and 42 percent read many (50-75%) 3) The frequency of subscribers participation The frequency of the subscribers direct participation in the discussion by way of posting message varied. 6% participated weekly, 4% fortnightly, 14% once a month, 14% once in three months, 16% once in six months. 45% never posted any messages on the FORU, 4) Reasons for not participating The reasons for not participating in discussions on the forums was due to too much information for 7%, prohibitive cost and expenses of the internet for 3%, 3% of the agencies where the respondents work, prohibits posting messages on the e FORUMS. 5% do not have regular access to internet connection. 31% have no time/too busy. 49% of the respondents are just happy to read the discussions. None reported not confident in English as the reason for not participating in the discussion. 4% did not know how to submit messages on the FORUM. 11% were reluctant to give opinions in public 5) Nature of most useful messages The response to the question, what type of messages do you find most useful was of multiple choice. 66% of the respondents reported discussion of specific topics by other subscribers was most useful. 61% reported announcements of conferences, scholarships, web sites and job vacancies were most useful. 61% of the respondents reported journal articles, book references were useful. 42% for conference coverage, 65% project reports, lessons learned, best practices, 39% links to resources on the Internet, 28% cross postings from other lists, and 24% of the respondents reported requests for information was most useful. ] 6) What do the subscribers do with the messages? 81% of the respondents used the information from the FORUM to increase current knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS. 46% used for program development/ Policy development. 14% used in clinical management, 43% for teaching and research. 59% shareed information with colleagues, 31% used for networking. 20% print messages and keep these in the resource centre. Following are some of the examples of how the AIDS INDIA e FORUM has been helpful to respondents in their work 1. " Keeps me updated on the latest developments and I have used the same in my trainings 2. helps me to learn the latest development or current news in this ever changing field of HIV " 3. " It is useful to answer the questions of students when I conduct sessions for adolescence " 4. " Through the information I have received from the FORUM, I attended and presented A paper on HIV In Canada " 5 " It helps me to make me confident that I can express my own views on HIV/AIDS in India " 6. " Keeping me abreast on the HIV/AIDS related updates " . 7. " Details of conference, or studies conducted elsewhere have helped me programmatically " 8. Helped us in recruitment of candidates for various vacancies and helped us to advertise our own training programs 9. The Forum increases our knowledge on the topic. It brings latest updates about HIV/AIDS in India and globally 10. Manny important issues have discussed in this forum 11. With out this service, it was not possible to understand what programmes are going on in different parts of the country 12. Helped in writing grant proposal 13. It certainly has been continuing to be the right source of latest info on rounds and various announcements 14. The information made available thrugh the forum help me getting the insight on what is happening on the ground 15. I am writing a book on HIV/AIDS. Many things learnt from the forum will be useful 16. While developing project proposals, I collect information from the postings 17. Learned about the drug interactions, the policy changes regarding the drug regulations etc 18. Made call for inputs on regional reports for UNAIDS PCB and got productive feedback from around Asia Pacific region 19. It has helped me in two ways: Given information on the concerns of individuals and organization 20. I get daily information on problems faced by PLHAS in accessing treatment 21. I teach a course Hospital and Health Management to PG Management students and use the information drawn from the Form in the class room 22. Posting on latest guidelines (WHO, CDC, etc.) helps us in updating our training curriculum 23. Its been helpful in guiding a few PLWHAs for seeking support and guidence 24. The district Tuberculosis officer immediately came to my clinic to offer DOTS at my clinic after my posting on the FORUM 25. As a professional development worker in the HIV/AIDS intervention field, my knowledge has been updated 26. The information I get through this FORUMS is edited and published in our NGO news tabloid, NGO-Connect, for sharing with other NGOs 27. Whatever information getting on related issues which is helping me to do networking , 28. increased awareness what is happening at the national level 29. Gives the recent data on HIV /AIDS there by I can give the latest information to my colleagues and clients 30. It is improving my knowledge of the pandemic in India as I work toward greater involvement on the ground level 31. I was ignorant about ART, its availability, CD4 testing, cost & various other associated problems. The FORUM helped me to under stand the issues. 32. While conducting training ,utilise and propagate the latest happenings in the field of HIV/AIDS 33. It has been a very useful information in formulating framework and strategy papers for intervention 34. Updating knowledge base is essential for our profession therefore, I always have to read and learn before going to deliver sessions 35. Based on the information I received, I was selected as one of the yuva star for the Hath se Hath mila programme sponsored by NACO, Doordarsan & BBC 36. Keeps me aware of other HIV/AIDS efforts country-wide, alerts me to conference, training opportunities and professional development 37. This the first time any news media in India given adequate focus on the unavailability of second line of ARV. This FORUM contributed substantialy to tretment advocacy. 38. I got news of an international conference related to my work and could attend it as a delegate 39. Change in policies help us to understand the market better at the same time we are helping or collaborating with others through the FORUM 40. Got more knowledge about the patenting and corporate house squabbles over the price war , drug reactions etc 41. Many aspects of HIV/AIDS are covered in the discussions. It has helped me in formulating consultancy 42. I keep myself updated about all that is happening in India and around the world on issues of HIV/AIDS through this FORUM 43. It is very helpful because most of the state updates and national updates on HIV/AIDS was received though this FORUM 7) Impact of the messages After reading the messages, during the last one month, 42% visited a website of a project, 51% down loaded a publication or online resource, 5% requested for more information, 13% registered for an event (training, workshop, meeting), 25% contacted other people/organization whom they have never contacted before and 21% responded to an advocacy call for action 8) Number of FORUMS the subscribers are member to 43% of the respondents are member of only this FORUM. 48% of the respondents are subscribers of 1-5 Forums. Only 3% are subscribers to 6-10 Forums and 2% are subscribers to more than 11 FORUMS . 9) The most important benefit of being on the FORUM The most important benefit of being on the FORUM varies from getting a job to extending friendship circle. 4% of the respondents got their current job, 8% attended a conference, 1% received a scholarship, 12% got beneficial information about grants/funds, 58% become more aware of the HIV/AIDS policies and 5% extended their friendship/contact net work 10) Where do the subscribers access the internet from? 48% usually access their e-mails from their office or work place. 15% from their home, 6% from Internet Café and 25% from home and office. 12) Frequency of checking messages 75% of the respondents do check their e-mail daily. 13% check their e- mails 2-3 times in a week, 5% only once in a week and 2% only few times in a month. 13) Ideal number of messages to be posted on the FORUM 14% of the respondents reported that too many messages are posted daily. For 60% of the respondents 4 - 5 messages posted daily is fine with them. 10% of the respondents requested to post more the 5 messages in a day and 10% requested to reduce the postings to 2-3 messages in a day. 14) Nature of internet access 18% of the respondents have direct dial up net work (Slow connection). 53% of the respondents have direct broad band connection (ADSL, Cable, ISDN, or Faster connection). 18% of the respondents computer is linked to an office computer network. Additional suggestions and Recommendations from the respondents 1. People of Meghalaya, Shillong North East India are not represented adequately on the FORUM 2. Maybe focussing on one particular topic each month and invite response accordingly 3. Please include more clinical work which can include case discussions as well 4. Involve more experts from clinical field 5. Allow more right based articles 6. It would be great if more research information are gathered and posted on the FORUM 7. Should carry more scientific articles 8. Along with this FORUM Try to develop a print media also on HIV/AIDS issues in India on a Monthly basis 9. Classify the information in such a way that - messages on specialised issued could be included 10. AIDS INDIA eFORUM has more reach than its actual membership 11. It has not gone to the grass root level where a lot of work has been done 12. Need to increase academic information and journal information 13. Analysis of news would be very useful 14. Good forum. Has wide reaching capacity 15. Would like to commend the forum for not charging, for its 16. Very few responses recently on clinical medicine and treatment 17. Thanks for your untiring great work 18. Need to increase participation from government 19. Very informative forum, maybe six months summary of what has discussed on the FORUM will be particular use 20. UNAIDS must document the experience of this FORUM as a best practice 21. Excellent and thoughtful initiative which is very much needed and useful in HIV response in India. Conclusion. Peer to peer electronic FORUMS are an effective tool for HIV and AIDS related information and communication among the key stake holders. Increases policy awareness and enhances greater professional response. Cost effective mechanism for rapid diffusion of policy and program changes. e FORUMS are contributing to the social capital for HIV response. Increasingly becoming a community of practitioners, knowledge management system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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