Data on the dose-response gradient for the relation of physical activity or physical fitness to health and function are reviewed, refuting the idea that physical activity programs are either exercise for health or for fitness and suggesting that the key factor is the total energy expenditure of the activity. (SM)

Examines the effects of physical activity on depression and anxiety, discussing the scientific strength of studies on physical activity, depression, and anxiety against the standards of science accepted in epidemiology with a focus on the independence, consistency, dose-response gradient, and biological plausibility of the evidence. (Author/SM)

To combat extreme health conditions in Armenia, nurses and physicians were given pretraining in community health at home and additional training in the United States on change strategies and community-based practice. Unforeseen barriers to change hindered progress, but participants were committed to preventive community health care. (SK)

Recent federal and state initiatives have analyzed American health needs and highlighted strategies for improvement. This article describes a collaborative partnership model that links academia with health practitioners in preparing health educators. The Baylor University health education model continues pragmatic traditions of American higher…

Finds that a press kit sent by an environmental group to midwestern newspapers influenced them to delegate local staff to cover the story. Indicates that the press's function to report or raise issues concerning industrial toxic releases and related health risks is tempered by community structure and particularly by community reliance on…

Sexual assault prevention programming remains a confused, scattered, and sporadic enterprise with little scientific underpinning. Sexual assault prevention suffers because it neither fits the traditional crime prevention model, nor the traditional public health model of prevention programming. Traces political and technical consequences, and…

Argues that there is no single strategy, institution, or discipline that can create the changes needed to reduce violence in America. Preventing violence requires long-term commitments, a comprehensive set of strategies, and new partnerships combined and focused on prevention of, not responses to, youth violence. (GR)

Part of a worldwide movement, Healthy Cities Indiana is a community development approach to health promotion that involves a public-private partnership and citizen participation in examining community health problems. Development of community leaders is an essential part. (SK)

This paper identifies two trends seen as shaping the future of dentistry: (1) the position of dental schools within the university structure; and (2) the regulation of schools through accreditation and licensure. Concluding comments address how dentistry can serve the public through greater access to care. (GLR)

Journals from five professional associations were reviewed to determine their responses to AIDS/HIV. Each of the associations addressed AIDS/HIV through their journals, devoting at least one issue or part of an issue to the subject. Of 239 articles, 105 were commentaries, editorials, or nondatabased and 134 were databased. (SM)

Discusses the provisions of the current proposals to amend the Right-to-Know Act of 1986 that are designed to inform surrounding communities about hazardous materials a facility uses, stores or disposes. (Author/MCO)

Changes in pharmacy student attitudes about professionalism, community health orientation, and qualities of a good pharmacist were studied in five graduating classes (n=-325 students). Results suggest significant decreases in professional identity over time and increased community health orientation during school years followed by a drop a year…

The unprecedented increase of measles and rising incidence of mumps, rubella, and whooping cough signal a serious breakdown in the nation's childhood immunization system. California now operates on a no-shot, no-school policy. Prohibitive costs for low income families exacerbate the problem. Uniform guidelines for preschool and day care programs…

Assesses the effectiveness of a local antismoking contest in Bloomington (Minnesota) that was coordinated with a statewide campaign. Interviews were conducted with 218 local and 198 statewide participants. Finds that the local contest had a higher impact than the statewide contest. (FMW)

The University of Washington's Health of the Public program has convened a consortium including the region's academic medical center, the state's two largest managed care plans, and representatives of major private and public health care purchasers to collaboratively collect cross-system data on practice to improve communitywide outcomes of care.…