This manual is designed for use by school personnel and dental personnel to aid in the development and maintenance of school-based or school-linked dental sealant programs. The sections include (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Guidelines" (school selection, school contacts, dental providers, target grades, and tooth selection…

This digest addresses the need for school-based sex education (SBSE), identifying recent curricula that have made a positive difference in the lives of U.S. youth. Many sexual behaviors place U.S. youth at great risk for a multitude of negative health outcomes. Every year, approximately 3 million adolescents acquire a sexually transmitted disease,…

This paper examines gender differences in smoking that may lead to differential treatment process and outcome, suggesting ways to incorporate nicotine replacement products into treatment strategies adapted to the special needs of women smokers and discussing withdrawal symptomatology, maintaining abstinence, weight concerns, menstrual cycle…

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…

Describes the integration of research-based practices into youth problem behavior prevention, examining the developing integration of science and prevention practice regarding: increasing use of epidemiological evidence about youth problem behaviors to guide prevention; a system for monitoring the incidence, prevalence, and context of youth…

Rural Underpinnings for Resiliency and Linkages (RURAL) is an example of a Safe Schools/Healthy Students project. Using a public health approach to increase school safety and promote healthy behaviors, RURAL introduced strategies designed to provide universal prevention for the school population, early intervention for at-risk children and…

Describes the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative in Morton High School District 201, Cicero, IL, which used a social ecological systems perspective to implement its goals. Social-emotional learning and violence-prevention strategies were provided at the levels of the community, school, and individual. Creation of a safe school environment…

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…

A social-behavioral science perspective is relevant to the curriculum for cardiorespiratory nursing specialists. These nurses should be prepared in health promotion and enabling patient self-management. (SK)

Evaluated the impact of Accessing Community Care through Eastside Social Services (ACCESS), a program that provided indigent patients with free primary care, on inpatient admissions, emergency room (ER) visits, and subsequent charges. Data on 19 people before and after program enrollment showed significant decreases in ER visits following…

Provides advice for school counselors on promoting healthy body image among middle school students. Interventions for the promotion of healthy body image at individual, group, and systemic levels can offer students a protective factor for common disruptions associated with puberty and the transition into middle school. Outlines issues for…

Asserts that the social context of coming out may be vital to the overall psychological health and well-being of gay youth and to their HIV risk behavior. Coming out is a multifaceted developmental process. Interventions targeting anti-gay attitudes and behaviors in families, schools, and communities, in addition to combating discriminatory social…

Investigated whether a mailed health promotion program would reduce outpatient visits while improving health status among people with chronic conditions and high visit rates in a managed care organization. Surveys of treatment and control groups before and 1 year after randomization indicated that the program reduced visit rates while improving…

Investigated relationships among demographics, self-esteem, health locus of control, health promotion activities, perceived health, and functional health ratings in 179 older adults. Discovered meaningful and significant relationships suggesting that exercise and nutrition may be critical health promotion activities associated with better scores…

This article discusses the onset and progression of AIDS, its importance as a public health issue, and reducing the risk of AIDS transmission among athletes and those who work with them, including team physicians and athletic trainers. (IAH)