Designed for teachers, administrators, and other specialized educational personnel, this professional paper describes new insights involving the problem of putting health knowledge into action. It explores reasons for the discrepancy between knowledge and behavior and suggests the asking of two questions: (1) What basic problem is the individual…

Examination of the effects of self-concept and personal values on the health behavior of community college students found a positive correlation between health behavior and self-concept scores. Persons who placed a high value on health appeared to practice more positive health behaviors than those who placed a low value on health. (CB)

Positive health behaviors can be learned by observing the behavior of others and its consequences for them. Four processes--attention, retention, motor performance, and motivation--can be used by teachers to increase the effectiveness of modeling. (DF)

Disadvantaged Black adolescents were surveyed regarding health knowledge, health locus of control, and health practices. Significant differences were found for scores on the health knowledge test due to sex, age, and health locus of control. Implications for health and nurse educators are discussed. (Author/DF)

Studies indicate that adolescents smoke to obtain a desirable image, rather than from direct pressure from peers. Suggestions for using peer influence to make favorable changes in health behaviors are offered. (DF)

This digest provides basic information designed to help people determine which of the many physical activity guidelines are most appropriate for use in specific situations. After an introduction, the digest focuses on: "Factors to Consider in Selecting Appropriate Physical Activity Guidelines" (group credibility and purpose, benefits to…

This report offers a composite review of methods used to prevent tobacco use. The report evaluates five approaches currently used to reduce tobacco consumption: educational, clinical, regulatory, economic, and comprehensive approaches. The report explains these approaches in terms of the larger context of tobacco control and provides a vision for…

This paper describes a study that tested the effects of an educational intervention on the alcohol-related knowledge, normative beliefs, attitudes, and psychosocial skills of high-risk drinking college students. Knowledge items measured cognitive awareness of alcohol risks. Normative beliefs and attitude measures reflected misperceptions of…

A survey of the effects of a Health Hazard Appraisal inventory on the behavior of college students indicates that the HHA is not an effective free-standing personal health behavior change tool with this population. (JMF)

Because the smoking behavior of African Americans differs considerably from that of other groups, researchers examined differences between African Americans who did and did not use the nicotine patch as an adjunct to counseling and education for smoking cessation. Results indicated the nicotine patch significantly improved six-month cessation…

Identifies several theoretical and methodological obstacles that limit understanding of the variable ways that men do or do not seek help from mental and physical health care professionals, noting sex differences in help-seeking behavior. Develops a contextual framework by exploring how the socialization and social construction of masculinities…

Discusses how mentoring in health promotion differs from other key support roles, noting what the underlying rationale is behind mentoring, how a mentoring program should be designed, what the historical and theoretical roots of mentoring are, and what strategies mentors can use to be more effective. A research agenda for the mentoring approach is…

Examines current health care literature on the microbiology of the home environment, summarizing evidence of transmission within the home and assessing the effectiveness of cleaning practices and products. The article focuses on the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room, then looks at routes of transmission of infection within the home and discusses…

Describes how college dining services are providing students with more nutrition information than ever, and finding much of it ignored in favor of pizza and french fries. (EV)

Used data from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey to evaluate the relationship between physical activity, sports participation, and suicide among college students. Overall, selected physical activity patterns were associated in a non-systematic manner with decreased or increased odds of suicidal behavior among male and female…