Perspectives are provided to help evaluators of health promotion programs. Eight papers present critical issues in such evaluations, including: (1) conceptual themes of program theory and context; (2) topics related to measurement, data analysis, and research design; and (3) reports of evaluation studies. (SLD)

Examines the barriers and issues that exist in providing services to high-risk youth, such as runaways and homeless youth, for HIV infection. Ways of removing those barriers by empowering both service providers and youth are offered. Recommendations are also provided for policy development concerning youth and HIV/AIDS. (GR)

This article discusses the role that university health centers and schools of public health can play in bolstering a community's capacity to solve its own health and human service problems, reviewing specific strategies and models that institutions can implement in partnership with local communities. (MDM)

A research review discusses individual versus societal responsibility as it relates to health promotion among African Americans. The paper suggests that blacks should hold themselves more personally responsible for solving their own problems while rejecting debilitating forms of extreme self-blame. Recommendations for improving the health of…

The paper reviews demographic and health status data for Hispanic communities and relates them to the role of culture in health care, recommending that health promotion programs focus on specific community data, understand the impact of culture and language, develop powerful outreach, and team up with community-based organizations. (SM)

Describes the culturally sophisticated community mobilization and educational strategies used to develop, implement, and evaluate a cholesterol education, screening, and referral intervention that effectively elicited the participation of underserved African Americans traditionally unresponsive to such efforts. The paper presents recommendations…

The focus of this issue is to provide an international perspective on the status of school health in 16 different countries as well as issues and trends in different international settings. The articles describe health care delivery and education systems, and instructional, environmental, and health service activities. (SM)

Research has not yet identified the best combination of estrogen replacement, calcium, and exercise for fighting osteoporosis, but clinical experience indicates all are needed to prevent the rapid bone loss that occurs in postmenopausal women. Physicians must encourage women to reduce their risk using all available options. (SM)

Presents an overview of theories, recommendations, and guidelines to consider before beginning a schoolsite health promotion program. Starting programs without understanding the complexity of the task may do more harm than good. The chronological model for schoolsite health promotion projects involves initial assessment, organization,…

PRECEDE evolved as a teaching tool and framework for planning and evaluating health education programs. PATCH (Planned Approach to Community Health) let researchers examine certain principles underlying PRECEDE, relating them to new community research. Understanding PRECEDE's limitations led to PROCEED (policy, regulatory, and organizational…

Reviews factors concerning fitness screening in teacher education programs and examines screening requirements in selected institutions in the United States, Canada, and in three Scandinavian countries--Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The purpose is to provide cross-cultural perspectives on the issue. (SM)

Evaluation of the University of South Florida Medical School's new (1990) preventive health requirements for matriculants showed that expensive requirements had the lowest rate of compliance and inexpensive ones, the highest rates. Enforcement measures significantly improved compliance. Cost was seen as a major deterrent to compliance. (Author/DB)

Reports findings from an assessment by the U.S. Congress' Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), which examined national adolescent health services. Results indicated changes in approaches to promoting and improving adolescent health are essential. Congressional actions taken since the release of OTA's report are summarized. (SM)

Recognizing a fundamental relationship between health and education, the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services issued a joint statement on school health in 1994 that underscored the cooperation between departments in efforts to improve child health. After describing the partnership, the article prints the one-page joint statement.…

Prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases is based on education of at-risk persons, detection, effective diagnosis and treatment, and evaluation, treatment, and counseling of sex partners. The article presents guidelines for secondary prevention, discussing prevention methods, prevention messages, HIV prevention counseling, partner…