Community-based health information outreach projects may empower the HIV/AIDS community to become more involved in health care and improve communication with providers. NLM will continue to promote the AIDS Community Information Outreach Program to encourage community organizations to design local projects for their specific communities.
The AIDS Community Information Outreach Program (ACIOP) was created in
1994 to assist the affected community in utilizing electronic HIV/AIDS
information resources. Nearly 300 competitive awards have been made to mostly
community-based organizations. A formal evaluation was undertaken to determine
the performance and impact of the ACIOP. A mixed methods design combined
quantitative abstractions and summarization of 47 awardee final reports from 44
organizations, and qualitative telephone interviews with 17 individuals
representing 20 projects. Findings revealed that project objectives were mostly
met; high-risk populations were reached; low resource organizations were funded;
community partnerships were significant; projects built on existing efforts;
information resources and training were tailored to local needs; and most
projects overcame barriers experienced. Needed modifications centered on: 1)
enhancing evaluation capacity at the individual project level and 2) revising
project reporting requirements to increase the amount of information available
to assess the ACIOP; both have been implemented.
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