In order for this project to run with the greatest efficiency, we must create a procedure to refer to our past actions. We first created a tentative procedure to guide in the general direction, making minor modifications throughout the study. The procedure indicated is now a detailed overview of our last 9 months' work on this project.

Before starting the study, we first needed to read background information relating to AIDS and the American’s controversial opinions in preventing it. The articles and references gave us an increased knowledge on past research of AIDS and public policy. This information would be used to the fullest extent in creating a hypothesis on how medical personnel would react to certain questions.

Based on the knowledge and background information learned, we then created a survey that inquired the physicians of their opinions. This 19 question, anonymous survey contained topics from mandatory testing to the general knowledge of AIDS. The answers could be answered on the scale of one to five. A 1 would mean that the physician strongly disagreed with the statement and five would indication that they strongly agreed. There was also a "D" box. This stood for "depends on circumstances." This was used if the physician’s vote could be swayed by different controlling factors. To prevent biases from certain subgroups, the physicians were instructed to indicate their location, gender, age range, past history and specific occupation. All of the responses would be categorized according to the surveyee’s personal history.

Based on the previous documents published, we hypothesized that a young, urban based, male, public health physician with significant AIDS experience would opt for a public policy, while an elderly, rural based, female, private physician with very few encounters with AIDS patients would opt for a "right to privacy" policy.

Once the hypothesis was stated, we were required to fill out an IRB (Institutional Review Board) form. This was true because our study deals with human subjects. We applied for exempt status, because the study was a survey that tested cognitive aptitude. We were approved in one week.

In order for us to create the survey, we needed several tools, including computer programs, an internet web site, and an electronic mailing address. Programs needed were HTMLed v1.5(HyperText Markup Language Editor), Netscape Navigator v3.0, Microsoft Access (database), Microsoft Word v6.0 (word processor), Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet), Pern v1.0 (computer programming language), and WebParse (color changer).

The next step was to create a way to reach the physicians. To minimize time the transfer time and money, we decided to create a fax mailing list and an electronic mailing (email) list of the doctors in North Florida and around North America, respectively. I obtained the fax mailing list from a circulation database in Shands hospital, and searched through numerous hospital web sites in the internet to create a master email address list. I also advertised the web site by adding it in the searchable index on the popular world wide web browser, Yahoo.com.

After I obtained over 1,500 contacts by such methods, I started creating an internet web site. A web site can created by using an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) editor. This editor, called HTMLed v1.5, helped me in creating special features in my website, like clickable images, background images, and forms. I also used a program called WebParse to create the font and background color. I would consistently saved and reviewed my .HTML files by using Netscape Navigator v3.0 beta 5.

I created 9 different URLs(Uniform Resource Locators), or "jumpsites" on my web site. AIDS.HTML briefly discussed my project and was my home page (It was reachable from all other pages). BACKGROU.HTML reviewed the history, symptoms, cause, and prevention efforts of AIDS. BIBLIO.HTML had a list of my references used in background research and programming efforts. ANONYMOU.HTML explained the procedures in keeping strict confidentiality and anonymity. SURVEY1.HTML was the first survey, asking personal questions about location, gender, age, past experiences, and specific occupation. SURVEY1.HTML did not contain any questions asking for the physicians’ name, home address, or phone number. SURVEY2.HTML was the official opinion poll pertaining to public policy in HIV/AIDS prevention. RESULT.HTML was a form that could be filled out if the physicians requested the results of this project. This was also useful if people other than medical personnel wanted to see the results, even if they were unable to fill out the opinion poll because of their professional status.

In order for the web site to work, I also had to create a CGI (common gateway interface) script by programming in Perl, a language similar to C++. Perl and C++ are common programming languages used to create computer programs ranging from utilities to scripts. I worked with Cynthia Karle in creating a CGI script so the data entered from the survey would be send to my email address.

We then sent out the survey to the physicians on the mailing lists. Each fax and message sent contained a cover letter inviting the doctors to take the anonymous survey. We faxed the physicians in North Florida written copies of the survey so that they could mail or fax the surveys back to us. They were also given the option to take the opinion poll via our internet web site. We would then give the physicians 1 week to finish and return the mail to us.

When all of the opinion polls were finished and turned in, all of the personal information and corresponding opinions would be entered into a database. The collective data would then be analyzed and tabulated with the hypothesis. Methods such as chi-squared and standard deviation would be used to create a percentage of error from the hypothesis. The confidence level of our hypothesis would also be taken into consideration. We would then create a conclusion about the effectiveness and accuracy of our hypothesis and project.

We hope and predict the project becoming successful. We feel that this study can help inform the public on what physicians’ opinions are when it comes to HIV/AIDS prevention.