Peer-Based HIV Risk Assessment: A Step-By-Step Guide Through the Teachable Moment

Abstract

Peer educators in HIV prevention have influence with other students beyond the narrowly defined traditional activities of workshop presentations of outreach projects. Training HIV prevention peer educators to be prepared for the "teachable moments" when other students seek their assistance on assessing risk for HIV infection is a necessary new emphasis in the training curriculum. HIV risk assessment can be approached as an educational intervention that requires interpersonal skills, but does not cross the invisible barrier into "counseling."