Purpose: To determine the efficacy of a food safety educational intervention for persons living with AIDS using a comic book format.
Methods: AIDS patients in four healthcare facilities in Chicago, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico were interviewed to determine food safety knowledge gaps and risky behaviors. A food safety educational comic book that targeted knowledge gaps was created, piloted, and provided to these patients who were instructed to read it and return at least 2 weeks later for a follow-up interview. The overall food safety score was determined by the number of the 29 knowledge/belief/behavior questions from the survey answered correctly.
Results: Among 150 patients who participated in both baseline and follow-up questionnaires, the intervention resulted in a substantial increase in the food safety score (baseline 59%, post-intervention 81%, P < 0.001). The intervention produced a significant increase in all the food safety knowledge, belief, and behavior items that comprised the food safety score. Many of these increases were from baseline knowledge below 80 percent to well above 90% such as concerning the potential danger of eating eggs that are not fully cooked, store bought hot dogs that have not been cooked, and food that is past its expiration date even if it does not smell or look bad. Most (85%) of the patients stated they made a change to their behavior since receiving the educational booklet.
Significance: This comic book format intervention to educate persons living with AIDS was highly effective. Future studies should examine to what extent long-term behavioral changes result.