Interactional problems of addressing ‘dreaded issues’ in HIV-counselling

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Abstract
Addressing the patient's fears about the future is an essential task in HIV counselling. The paper examines with conversation analytical methods the interactional dynamics of such discussions in video- and audio-taped counselling sessions with patients coming for an HIV test and others diagnosed as HIV antibody positive. Two communication formats were found to be used in the sessions, one based on information delivery made by the counsellor and the other on interviewing the patient. The interactional tasks in the use of the interview format include persuading the patient to produce his/her own views of the future and moving from mere expression of troubles towards their management.