The newly incorporated Computer-Based Patient Record Institute (CPRI) is discussed in the context of the history of medical records, the need for change (mainly because of health care reimbursement and regulation), and the need for involvement by all medical professionals in the development of standards of data collection which reflect public…

Discusses legislation currently under consideration that sets standards for the amount of radon, aluminum, and arsenic allowable in drinking water. Considers the economic impact of the legislation and traces the status of the Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations from 1989-92. (MDH)

Presents a primer for health educators about blood donation and transfusion, examining the nature of human blood, the background of blood transfusion, blood donation criteria, risks related to homologous blood transfusion, directed blood donation, potential alternatives to homologous transfusion, and resources for education on the subject. (SM)

Discusses research findings about malathion, a widely used insecticide, concerning potential for human exposure; how malathion works and is used; toxicity; carcinogenicity; mutagenicity; associated birth defects; reproductive effects; effects on vision, diet, behavior, and immune systems; contaminants and analogues, synergists, residues, inert…

Health educators must complement individual-level change with communitywide policy and legislative initiatives, focusing on environmental issues such as air pollution, ozone layer depletion, and toxic waste disposal. Recent increases in discomfort and disease related to the physical environment call for immediate action from health professionals…

Asthma will be a significant public health problem until economic and social progress catches up with medical progress. The article explains asthma and discusses how to handle childhood asthma. Parents, politicians, and health care professionals must unite to assure adequate medical care and healthful living conditions for all children. (SM)

Describes occupations involved with safety and health including safety professionals, industrial hygienists, health and regulatory inspectors, public health microbiologists, ecologists, pollution control engineers, health physicists, and ergonomists. (JOW)

Assessed trends in HIV risk behaviors among New York City injection drug users from 1990-97. Interviews at a drug detoxification program and a research storefront in a high drug-use area showed continuing risk reduction among users that indicated a declining phase in the large HIV epidemic in New York City. HIV prevention programs appeared to be…

Examines frequency, costs, and quality of life losses associated with unintentional childhood injuries in 1996, using analyses of national and state data sets. Summarizes the cost effectiveness of several child safety measures and discusses current federal funding patterns for health care research on the subject. An appendix presents methods of…

Reviews measures of dental health in children and the evidence on child dental health. Although children's dental health has improved over the past two decades, many poor children do not receive necessary dental health services, and reasons for this failure are summarized. (SLD)

Occupational health nurses (n=18) in the National Health Service in Britain participated in a nominal group to identify issues and educational needs. Findings indicated a need for management skills and legal/legislative knowledge, evidence-based approaches, and sharing of expertise. Incremental continuing education was recommended. (Contains 33…

Offers practice models for community-based nursing and community health nursing that demonstrate the different roles, philosophies, and activities of the two approaches. Points to curriculum changes that are needed to prepare students to practice in an increasingly community-oriented health care industry. (Author)

Research indicates prevalence of mental disorders has increased longitudinally from late childhood into young adulthood. For this study, mental health data were gathered at ages 11, 13, 15, 18, and 21 in an epidemiological sample using standardized diagnostic assessment. Findings suggest treatment resources need to target the young adult sector of…

Discusses the need to promote health literacy. Such efforts can be achieved through more personal forms of communication and through community-based educational outreach. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education) (Author/VWL)

Finds that 175 individuals in seven hunter safety classes exposed to a gun safety video intervention listed significantly more gun safety practices, perceived greater susceptibility to accidental gun injuries, perceived gun injuries to be more severe, and perceived greater response efficacy toward some of the recommended gun safety practices.…