Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Student Awareness of the Link between Substance Abuse and AIDS (SALSA) Student Peer Educators (SPEs) in increasing freshman students' HIV knowledge/awareness, and to assess students' perceptions of the SPEs as teachers/HIV prevention educators.
Methods: Junior nursing students served as SALSA SPEs and presented an updated 50-minute sexual health class to freshman students. An investigator-developed questionnaire and program evaluation form was completed by attendees at the end of class.
Results: A total of 66 classes were presented by 71 SALSA SPEs to 965 freshman students. Questionnaire results revealed that the freshman students increased their knowledge/awareness of HIV transmission/prevention, while decreasing their likelihood to engage in risky sex. Program evaluation resulted in ratings of excellent.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that campus-based SPEs may be effective in educating freshman students about HIV and risky sexual behaviors.