Current Status of Statewide School Health Education Programs in Michigan

This study surveyed all Michigan public school principals regarding the current status of comprehensive school health education being provided in Michigan public schools. A 32-item survey was developed, pretested, revised and mailed to all public school principals in Michigan. Followup letters were sent to nonrespondents. A phone survey was conducted to nonrespondent principals after the cut-off date to verify survey responses. All data was analyzed by elementary, junior high school and high school population. The areas of professional preparation, inservice education, application and utilization of the Essential Performance Objectives for Health Education in Michigan , the content and time allotted for health education, and the lack of a well-developed organizational structure for health education have been articulated as deficit areas in the current status of comprehensive school health education. This survey provided much information for future consideration by educators, public and private health organizations, and other individuals and groups interested in school health in Michigan.     

Comprehensive School Health Programs in Texas Public Schools

One goal of the Texas Comprehensive School Health Initiative (TCSHI) involves assessing the status of comprehensive school health (CSH) programs in Texas public schools. This project used a case study approach to establish baseline information regarding CSH programs in selected school districts across the state. Eight researchers were trained to use a case study instrument and procedures for conducting interviews. Seven school districts participated in the survey during fall 1990. Results indicated considerable concern and support for CSH programs but little coordination of programs was evident. Six districts were not organized to address health comprehensively. Generally, school districts were overwhelmed with other responsibilities, so CSH programming was not a priority. Results will be used to revise the survey instrument and further expand the data base.     

Promoting Comprehensive School Health Programs Through Summer Health Promotion Conferences

This study reports on the evaluation of the second North Carolina Healthful Living Institute (HLI), a statewide conference to promote comprehensive school health education. A comparison of year one and year two evaluation results is included. Based on a theoretical framework derived from the theory of diffusion of innovations within organizations, the impact of the HLI was assessed by studying characteristics of school districts sending representatives to the HLI and the composition of teams from each school district, and using pretest and posttest measures of participants' perceptions of the importance of health as a content area and participants' perceptions of the importance of the various components of comprehensive school health. Results indicate the effect of school health promotion conferences is linked to characteristics of school district teams, with the Institute needing to attract more varied teams, and teams from smaller, rural districts.     

Bridging Student Health Risks and Academic Achievement Through Comprehensive School Health Programs

ABSTRACT: In the National Action Plan for Comprehensive School Health Education, representatives from over 40 health, education, and social service organizations viewed education and health as interdependent systems. Participants concluded that healthy children learn better, and they cautioned that no curriculum can compensate for deficiencies in student health status. While literature confirms the complexity of health issues confronting today's students, schools face enormous pressure to improve academic skills. Local school leaders and stakeholders often remain unconvinced that improving student health represents a means to achieving improved academic outcomes. A rich body of literature confirms a direct link between student health risk behavior and education outcomes, education behaviors, and student attitudes about education. This article summarizes relevant information concerning the health risk behavioral categories of intentional injuries; tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs; dietary, physical activity, and sexual risk behaviors.     

Immunization Services for Adolescents Within Comprehensive School Health Programs

ABSTRACT: Every school day, more than 95% of the nation's five- to 17-year-olds attend one of almost 110,000 elementary and secondary schools where they receive instruction in how to avoid major health-threatening behaviors. School is also the place where children and adolescents can be given preventive health care services, including administration of vaccines and monitoring of immunization levels. This article addresses how expanding school health services could improve immunization levels of school-aged youth.     

Comprehensive School Health Education Programs: Innovative Practices and Issues in Standard Setting

"In the great work of education…our physical condition, if not the first step in point of importance, is the first in order of time. On the broad and firm foundation of health alone, can the loftiest and most enduring structures of the intellect be reared."     

School Health Education: A Foundation for School Health Programs

This article describes the present status of health instruction--one of the original three components of the school health program--and suggests ways to improve its effectiveness as one of the eight components of a comprehensive school health promotion program. The article also demonstrates the complexity of the theory base, content, methodology, and outcome expectations of health instruction; a complexity that demands the subject be taught by teachers who are thoroughly prepared and committed to teaching health.     

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Present Status and Future Prospects

Both management and prognosis vary with the many different varieties of nonHodgkin's lymphoma. In large-cell disease, age and other risk factors influence prognosis. Relapses may respond to chemotherapy plus autologous bone marrow transplantation. Therapy with antibodies to tumor cells has made its debut, but role remains unclear.     

Death Education within Health Education: Current Status, Future Directions

A national survey was conducted among 205 university level divisions/departments of health education to determine the current status of death education courses within the health education field. Forty-nine college and university health educators currently teaching the course returned usable instruments. Death education receives the same credit, utilizes similar grading systems and is generally managed much like other academic courses. Since the discipline is in its infancy and many teachers are relatively unprepared, respondents called for greater quality control and improved professional preparation. Several concerns accompanying the growth of death education were identified.     

流行性感冒疫苗免疫现状与展望

流行性感冒(流感)是一种急性呼吸道传染病,在幼儿和老年人中常导致严重并发症。流感疫苗接种是目前预防流感最有效的措施。该文对现行流感灭活疫苗的免疫效果和免疫策略、其它类型流感疫苗和接种途径的研究状况、禽流感及其预防措施进行了综述。     

School Health Promotion: Child Nutrition Programs

Since 1946, with the enactment of the National School Lunch Act, an important and integral part of the comprehensive school health program has been ensuring the nutritional needs of students are met. This article describes the history of the school nutrition program and how it has adapted to meet the needs of today's students. The modern menu is more healthful, foods are prepared with less salt, sugar, and fat, and nutrition education complements food choices. Through collaboration, nutrition education has been integrated into health education and the other elements of the total school health program to better meet students needs.     

A Comparative Study of Three Model Comprehensive Elementary School Health Education Programs

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the three most popular comprehensive health education programs in Michigan including each program's curricular content, student outcomes, and cost effectiveness. The three programs were cross-referenced with the Michigan Essential Performance Objectives for Health (MEPO). Student outcome data were gathered and analyzed utilizing a health education instrument derived from the Michigan Educational Assessment Program. Instruments were administered to 377 third-graders and 595 sixth-graders participating in the three health programs. While each of the three programs met the Michigan Essential Performance Objectives for Health, the programs differed in areas of teacher training time, materials cost, and length of time for implementation. Third graders showed some very positive effects from health instruction based upon a comparison of their composite scores and scores for 10 health topic areas. Sixth graders showed some gains in several health topic areas, but few significant gains in composite scores.