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The purposes of this study were to determine by questionnaire current attitudes about AIDS, herpes, and Toxic Shock Syndrome and to what extent concern about these diseases affected behavior of 232 volunteers from classes in a midwestern university. The majority of the respondents expressed relatively little concern about any of these diseases. Except for a few respondents who expressed extreme concern, there were also no changes in current self-reported rates of sexual activity compared to a year ago. Male homosexuals expressed more concern about AIDS than other sexual preference groups. However, this did not appear to affect their level of sexual activity. Female respondents expressed relatively more concern about Toxic Shock Syndrome than either AIDS or herpes but the majority of them were still users of tampons. Previous media reports had indicated there was significant curtailment in sexual activity as a result of herpes and AIDS. It is hypothesized that the media reports were based on surveys of areas that had higher actual incidence rates of these diseases than was observed in this sample. Concern about these diseases and any psychological impact may be a function of the incidence of disease.

This study was conducted to determine whether repressors and sensitizers would show differential visual recognition in two types of threatening situations. The manipulations of threat were a factorial combination of neutral versus sexual materials and success versus failure feedback. Sixty-four female subjects were classified as either repressors or sensitizers using the Manifest Anxiety Scale. Subjects learned picture-nonsense word paired associates with either neutral (outdoor scenery) or threatening (nude male) pictures as stimuli. Subsequently, subjects were given false feedback (of success or failure) regarding their rate of learning. Subjects were then given a perceptual task which involved recognition of the previous nonsense words. There were no differences in recognition between repressors and sensitizers in the success condition, and when the nonsense words had been paired with neutral pictures. Repressors did take longer than sensitizers to recognize words after the failure experience. Repressors also look longer to recognize the words associated with the threatening pictures. The results support the operation of a generalized perceptual defensiveness in repressors. However, sensitizers showed no indications of perceptual vigilance.

Internet training courses for Nurse Aides (NA) in long term care facilities (LTCs) have been shown to be effective., Little is known, however, about Internet training effects on NAs in a non-research context, or about continued utilization of an available training program. In this research, a replication study was conducted with the Internet training program Caring Skills: Working with Mental Illness. Three LTCs provided the training to all NAs, each within a one-month interval scheduled during consecutive months. Supervisors were interviewed subsequently about their experiences organizing and supervising the training. Participants in all three LTCs showed positive pre-posttests effects with large effect sizes on situational knowledge and self-efficacy, and knowledge about mental illness. Users rated the program highly, and they indicated that it would improve quality of their resident care. Supervisors praised the training, and they said NAs were using recommended training behaviors. Although available to all staff, nursing and other staff made little use of the training in subsequent months. Training for NAs on the internet thus appears feasible, and it is perceived to be beneficial for resident care. Plans for continued utilization and dissemination of best practices to other staff, however, should be integrated when planning for staff training on the Internet.