Appropriate use of health risk appraisals with school-age children

Health Risk Appraisals (HRAs) use personal risk assessment as an educational approach to encourage adoption of positive health-related behavior. An individual's behavior and health history are compared to morbidity and mortality tables to estimate a level of personal risk. Current trends suggest HRAs will continue to be popular with school health educators. Appropriate use of HRAs requires an understanding of the assumptions, interpretations, and limitations of these instruments. This article reviews the development, validity, and reliability of HRA methodology. The educational usefulness of HRAs designed for school-age populations is examined. Recommendations are offered to optimize the instructional benefits of HRAs while minimizing potential deficiencies.