Results are reported from a study of 204 elementary and secondary health education majors who were surveyed to determine if differences exist on the relative importance of selected health content areas, including first aid and safety, nutrition, emotional health, dental health, disease, alcohol/tobacco/drugs, sex education, and body systems. (IAH)

A qualitative case study and monitoring data complemented a study of the evaluation of a health promotion program (Project LIFE) conducted in 23 rubber-producing plants in the United States. The study illustrates assessment of threats to internal validity, including the degree to which the planned intervention was actually implemented. (SLD)

This study compared the treatment, pretest, and treatment by pretest interaction effects on reports of alcohol use, misuse, and measures of awareness of curriculum content, susceptibility to peer pressure, self-esteem, and health locus of control in the context of an elementary school alcohol misuse prevention project. (JOW)

Guidelines presented by the Centers for Disease Control for effective preventive education about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cover planning and implementing AIDS education programs, education personnel preparation, purposes and content specific to the various grade levels, curriculum time and resources, and program assessment. (CB)

The Minnesota Heart Health Program's Quit and Win smoking cessation contests occurred between 1982 and 1989. The contests used large prizes to encourage smokers to quit smoking. Evaluations indicated that the contests succeeded in recruiting relatively large proportions of smokers in entire communities, and abstinence outcomes were encouraging.…

Presents an empirically developed model for coordinating the planning and implementation of combined health promotion activities for elementary schools. Validity of the model was assessed using results of semistructured interviews with two individuals who served as coordinators. The amended model, developed in light of the assessment, is…

Reviews a motivational approach for increasing exercise and decreasing fat consumption to reduce body weight in obese individuals. Exercise motivation includes communicating the physiological benefits and self-regulating exercise intensity. Prudent eating motivation includes stopping restrictive dieting, distinguishing between hunger and craving,…

Examines current guidelines for physical fitness, noting issues that may influence the updating of the American College of Sports Medicine exercise statement. Differences between exercise prescription for fitness and physical activity for health are discussed, noting the importance of designing individualized programs with appropriate levels of…

This study investigated national public opinion on school health education and the implications for health-care reform initiatives. Telephone surveys of 1,005 adults nationwide indicated that the public at large believes in the importance of health education to reduce health problems among children, considering it the responsibility of parents and…

There are strong theoretical and empirical rationales for believing that psychological processes are integral to the maintenance of smoking behavior. A comprehensive treatment program for chronic cigarette smokers must have, at its foundation, interventions addressing the psychological processes that maintain smoking. The article examines the…

Cognitive instructional cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) programs are beneficial to secondary students. Though health and physical educators recognize the need for cognitive information in fitness programs, there is little practice in secondary school fitness programs. The article makes recommendations for including valid, cognitively related…

Suburban high school students and their parents completed surveys about their preferences for school-based health services. Results indicated that student interest was less than parent interest, though both groups were at least moderately interested. Both groups wanted to see general health services, reproductive health services, and counseling…

Offers suggestions that use ideas from wellness and health education, both in theory and practice, such as the benefits of simplicity, a holistic perspective, healing through nature, and experiential nature activities to mobilize the healing emotions of counselors and their clients, whether children or adults. (LKS)

This article describes cardiovascular problems of minority populations, exploring ways that churches can help their communities and describing the outcomes of a model intervention on four African American churches in rural north Florida. Positive outcomes were observed, particularly regarding community members' participation in health promotion…

Telephone surveys of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees investigated the impact of an agencywide smoking policy that initially restricted, then banned, smoking. Nearly all of the employees and 56 percent of the smokers supported the policy. One quarter of the smokers reported increased interest in quitting following policy…