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Most states have policies for prohibiting the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs in schools. While these substances are related to levels of violence in the school environment, schools have varying policies regarding the use of these substances in their campuses. The extent of implementation may be related to local resources, since not all school districts have specific guidelines for health policies and most leadership assistance is addressed towards the use of alcohol and drugs but not on tobacco and violent behavior., Schools are no longer a safe haven from many of society's problems. Students and staff may be exposed to tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, and violence in or [...]

This secondary analysis from the National Adolescent Student Health Survey (NASHS) examined relationships between adolescents' personal and perceived peer attitudes toward condom use with gender and self-reported ethnic background. Descriptive results revealed general personal support and perceived peer support for condom use. Results from multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVAs) demonstrated significant interaction effects for the eighth grade sample [F = (4, 2383228) = 3530.01 p = .0001, and the 10th grade sample [F = (4, 2636878) = 2594.41073, p = .000]. Contrasts revealed significant differences among all ethnic groups for both belief variables for the entire sample, eighth grade students, and 10th grade students. Though general support exists for condom use among U.S. eighth and 10th grade students, conviction varies among groups perhaps indicating a need for tailored messages about condom use, especially for Hispanic students. Implications for health education include the need for cultural-sensitive and gender-sensitive STD education. (J Sch Health. 1992;62(3):103-106)

Throughout the 1980s, accountability was watch-word of public policy. Health, social service, and educational programs are--more than at any time in history--being required to demonstrate their effectiveness. The Teenage Health [...]

An editorial is presented which examines the authors' agenda regarding cooperation between academic, government, and industry sectors to engage in digital health communication as of 2019, and it mentions e inaugural Digital Health Promotion Executive Leadership Summit which was held on June 5-6, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The use of social media, smart phones, the Internet, and mobile digital devices in public health communication is examined.

The article presents information on a research study which focuses on development of a model of wellness. The study used the Delphi Technique to structure data collection. Thirty-five content elements of wellness were refined and assessed by a panel of wellness experts through the Delphi Technique. The personal or individual approach to wellness is correlated to elements like nutritional awareness, survival, stress management, physical well-being, internal control, freedom and space and effectiveness/competence. It is viewed that a wellness program cannot be directly developed through the model though it can serve as a impetus for thought about the program.

Background: Adult women living in rural areas have high rates of obesity. Although rural populations have been deemed hard to reach, Internet-based programming is becoming a viable strategy as rural Internet access increases. However, when people are able to get online, they may not find information designed for them and their needs, especially harder to reach populations. This results in a "content gap" for many users. Objective: User-centered design is a methodology that can be used to create appropriate online materials. This research was conducted to apply a user-centered approach to the design and development of a health promotion website for low-income mothers living in rural Maryland. Methods: Three iterative rounds of concept testing were conducted to (1) identify the name and content needs of the site and assess concerns about registering on a health-related website; (2) determine the tone and look of the website and confirm content and functionality; and (3) determine usability and acceptability. The first two rounds involved focus group and small group discussions, and the third round involved usability testing with individual women as they used the prototype system. Results: The formative research revealed that women with limited incomes were enthusiastic about a website providing nutrition and physical activity information targeted to their incomes and tailored to their personal goals and needs. Other priority content areas identified were budgeting, local resources and information, and content that could be used with their children. Women were able to use the prototype system effectively. Conclusions: This research demonstrated that user-centered design strategies can help close the "content gap" for at-risk audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]