Health care reform needs to assure coverage to all children regardless of income level or illnesses; address benefits, financing, administration, and delivery systems; provide substantial subsidies to low-income families; be equitable for all people; provide better monitoring of child health; protect and strengthen health providers who assist…

Examines how health care reform might be structured to provide support for a package of primary care services for children of all socioeconomic strata. An insurance-like financing system, such as the special Medicaid payment system adopted by New York State for public and nonprofit primary health care programs, may be useful as a model for a…

Discusses the implications of the Medicare program's rate setting system on health care reform and considers whether such a procedure could be applied to a health insurance system that included children. Examines desirable characteristics of a provider payment system, special health needs of children, and hospital and physician payment issues.…

Discusses hearing loss resulting from everyday noise. Recent research suggests that noise-induced hearing loss among school-aged children and teens is more severe than parents and teachers realize. Suggestions about what parents and teachers can do about excessive noise are presented. (SM)

Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey are used to investigate the prevalence of hearing loss and hearing aid use among 1,682 Mexican-American, 441 Cuban-American, and 628 Puerto Rican adults. Hearing loss, very prevalent in the general population, is also highly prevalent in the Hispanic-American population. (SLD)

Explores opportunities for the future involvement of counseling psychologists in the health field. Includes evolving definitions of health specialties; changes currently taking place in conceptual models for health, disease, and medicine; and issues related to counseling psychologists' involvement in the health field. (Author/PVV)

Implemented Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) curriculum to help students learn about human immunodeficiency virus, discuss personal opinions, clarify values, and develop low risk behaviors. Divided 121 college students into experimental group receiving course and control group. Experimental subjects differed significantly from controls…

Childhood obesity is a social and health problem that is encouraged by junk food ads and the easy availability of unhealthful fast foods. The article provides guidance for parents to encourage healthy eating by their children; it includes a list of resources and a list of "best" processed foods. (SM)

Reports a study of the effects of short-term fitness education on low-fit female college students' knowledge and attitudes. Group A received handouts and lectures. Group B received handouts only. Pre- and posttesting indicated lectures were more effective than handouts. Both groups demonstrated significantly higher knowledge about health and…

A three-year study examined adult physical activity preferences, comparing data to past surveys on the subject. Data from health assessment surveys indicate that the most popular activities are walking, swimming, dance, and bicycling. Data tables and indications on cautious interpretation of the data are included. (SM)

Content analysis of National Network of State Conferences for School Worksite Wellness conference components for 22 states analyzed conference goals, keynote sessions, workshops, and evaluations. There was substantial variability among states (e.g., length of conference and workshop content), but all states conducted evaluations and used the…

Examined the relationship between social support, barriers, locus of control, and involvement of school health promotion team members in school health promotion activities. Subjects perceived greater support for implementing CPR/first aid, alcohol/drug programs, and speeches on health topics and lower support for healthy snacks, advisory groups,…

Evaluates a point-of-purchase nutrition education program in Pawtucket (Rhode Island). Uses consumer interviews to evaluate the effect of awareness of shelf labels on purchase behavior. Reports increases in shoppers' ability to identify correct shelf labels and in the number of shoppers who were encouraged to buy the identified foods. (FMW)

Current studies suggest that children today are less physically fit, are more obese, and have less healthy cardiovascular systems than their peers of 10 years ago. Obesity affects more than fitness; it is a major health problem. Physical education specialists, teachers, administrators, parents, and business leaders can cooperate to change this…

Notes that interest in wellness among colleges and universities appears to have been growing in recent years, particularly among divisions of student affairs. Sees wellness as represented by six dimensions: physical, intellectual, occupational, social, emotional, and spiritual. Provides specific practical recommendations for designing and…