Do You Know? Edutainment, HIV/AIDS, and African Americans

A 33-minute dramatic production, Do You Know?, was written and produced using episodic framing to create a storyline around several college students and the potential spread of HIV/AIDS. This edutainment project was also constructed using exemplars to present key health messages that show the importance of getting tested, knowing your status and protecting yourself in personal relationships. Study participants over 18 years old watched Do You Know? on the Internet (Facebook or YouTube) and completed a survey. Study participants under 18 years old watched the video as part of a focus group, completed the survey, and then participated in a 30-min discussion. The findings of this study suggest that edutainment and the Internet can be effective in reaching African Americans with important health information.