Focus on the designated driver strategy by broadcasters and the alcohol industry deflects attention from other alcohol-related problems and the factors influencing underage alcohol consumption. Strategies should emphasize sobriety checkpoints, no sales to minors, advertising reform, and excise taxes on alcohol. (SK)

A longitudinal cohort of 1,209 elementary students who had high exposure to the Know Your Body program had significantly lower cholesterol and blood pressure. A posttest-only cohort (n=3,066) with high exposure also had lower intake of meat and desserts and higher health knowledge and intake of healthy foods. (SK)

Discusses approaches to providing sexual knowledge to adolescents, emphasizing the restricted information approach advocated by the religious and political "Far Right." Presents examples of the limiting of sexual information at federal, state, and local levels; discusses the role of health educators in assuring adolescents the right to learn about…

Survey examined how senior health education majors assessed their competence in health education skills covered in the certification examination. Results indicated subjects had moderate competence in skills required for certification, perceiving themselves as most competent in assessing health education needs and least competent in acting as…

Describes the construction and validation of a multidimensional program evaluation questionnaire for internal and/or external evaluation of graduate programs in health education. The flexible instrument can evaluate graduate programs at the masters, specialist, and doctoral level. (SM)

Presents recommendations by the Association for the Advancement of Health Education and the American School Health Association for health instruction responsibilities and competencies needed for elementary teachers (communicate program concepts and purposes, assess student health instruction needs and interests, plan and implement instruction, and…

Cardiovascular risk factors in 57 healthy older individuals were measured (blood pressure, lipids and lipoproteins, and lifestyle behaviors) via a personal health questionnaire. Results indicated that, though the subjects were generally healthy, their lifestyle behaviors, particularly diet and physical activity, could be improved. (SM)

Reports on a national survey of 700 institutions with teacher education programs. According to the completed surveys (n=197), the programs tended not to include planned instruction about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) for elementary students, and those that did typically went through the health education unit. (SM)

National Research Council files were analyzed to develop demographic profiles of U.S. health education doctoral graduates. Significant data reported include graduation rate; age, marital, and citizenship status; predoctoral degrees and time to degree; postdoctoral plans; work activity and region of employment; and degree-granting institutions. (SM)

Broad-based community education strategies implemented in a rural South Carolina county to prevent unintended teen pregnancy showed reductions in pregnancy among teens from 1984-87. The reduced numbers realized a 20-year projected savings of $611,688 in public sector costs. Tables display data for this and comparison counties. (SM)

Describes assessment processes used by the Department of Community Health at East Carolina University to determine needs and perspectives of its various constituencies and to integrate their viewpoints into curriculum planning. The curriculum meets the demands of the national credentialing program and the needs of state health care professionals.…

Health education programs lack local and state support where educational administration and policy change occur. The article presents reasons for the problem and suggests health educators become politically active at state and local levels. Successful advocacy efforts in North Carolina, California, and Minnesota are reviewed. (SM)

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)

A survey of 1,482 high school students in spring and fall 1986 resulted in confirmation of the Problem Behavior Theory as a predictor of drinking and driving among adolescents. Environmental, behavioral, and demographic factors account for 50 percent of the variance in drinking and driving. (SK)

Social learning theory formed the basis of a program to develop self-management skills in cystic fibrosis patients. Strategies for practical learning activities for patients and their families included goal setting, reinforcement, modeling, skill training, and self-monitoring. (SK)