IM VERY VERY CAREFUL about giving my 'data' to anyone who outright says theyre using it for a 'database', because databases are used for one thing, data MINING, and in an age when data mining is a SERIOUS issue that many simply do not fully grasp, i would suggest caution when offering personal information that no matter what they say, CAN be traced to you, and in situations where profit is involved, WILL be traced to you. Not everyone in the aids industry, or any other industry, has your personal privacy and rights and preferences at the top of their list of priorities.
good rule of thumb, feel free to share, when you KNOW the identity of those with whom you're sharing, how the info will be used, and what your rights are to not only be removed from the INVITATION LIST, but to have your data DELETED upon request. (this is traditionally VERY difficult to have done, ask anyone who has ever tried to have incorrect data removed from a credit 'database')
caution is always good when dealing with your private information.
fifty buck, yay!
(as for spouses, many of these data gathering services offer MANY different surveys, and not all to do with hiv, the more they know about YOU the better they can determine if you are a good candidate for future investigations they get involved with. i did a two year study with chicago university many years ago, and i was coming out of my first serious illness back then, so the four hours interview, every three months for 2 years, DID ALOT FOR ME, in terms of helping me to put the two year period of adjsutment into focus. i would say it was a very beneficial situation. they paid with cash tho, never knew my real name, and came to my house to do the inquest on their laptops. the guy was trained and very personable, by the third interview he was bringing pizza and we supplied the beer! their process however was extremely detailed in how they protected you because they didnt even know who we were!
: )
