Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:122 (abstract no. WS-D19-6) Hellard W; Community AIDS Treatment Information, Toronto, Canada.
Peer counselling is a recognized means of reaching people by using their peers. The Community AIDS Treatment Exchange (CATIE) as a result of their Treatment Needs Assessment conducted in 1991 found that people infected with HIV preferred to obtain their treatment information from their peers. "They felt the information they received from others infected with HIV was both given in layman's terms and was being given by someone who had been through the issues." Along with developing a handbook specifically for people infected with HIV, who are dealing with their treatment, CATIE is now developing a comprehensive training program to prepare volunteer HIV+ people to become peer treatment educators. Once trained they should be able to provide accurate information around HIV treatments and therapies (traditional and complementary) in terms that their peers can understand. The goal is to provide a standard of information so that people can make informed decisions and become partners in their health care management.
Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Counseling, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Personnel, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, HIV-1, Needs Assessment, Attitude of Health Personnel, therapy, ICA9 930606
WSD196
