AIDS: public response to a telephone information system.

This article reports on Roswell Park Memorial Institute's experience with a taped, telephone information system in the dissemination of informational and educational messages to the public concerning cancer and AIDS. This system, known as CAN-DIAL, has serviced over 400,000 callers since its inception in 1973. A series of tape recorded messages concerning AIDS was introduced in 1984. This study compares and contrasts basic demographic data on approximately 100,000 callers for cancer and AIDS information for the period 1984 to 1988. Results demonstrate CAN-DIAL to be a well-received, responsive, and efficient means of educating the public about cancer and AIDS.