Building an AIDS Resource File: A Rationale and a Model Available to Purchase

The body of literature on AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) has increased so dramatically over the past six years that it may now easily overwhelm the student or researcher embarking on a search of the literature. The nature and scope of the literature varies, and, due to developments in research, epidemiology, and so on, the literature is being continuously updated and superceded by new discoveries and additional perspectives. Moreover, since AIDS is a multifaceted phenomenon, most of the literature, with the exception of the biomedical literature, tends to treat several facets simultaneously. It is not unusual, for example, to retrieve an article containing information on incidence, demographics, costs, and policy statements; or to find another that addresses public opinion, moral issues, and AIDS education in the schools. The newness of AIDS, coupled with the newness of research and reaction to AIDS, means that a number of facets are often treated in a single article so that as much related information as possible can be passed on to the reader.