Background: Across the United States, school health education programs provide a wide variety of knowledge and skills to their students. There are currently no guidelines for school health methods courses. Methods: Using a 2-wave mailing followed by a third wave e-mail reminder, a final population of 226 university school health methods…

Background: This study assessed the perceptions and practices of school nurses regarding adolescent dating violence (ADV). Methods: The membership list of the National Association of School Nurses was used to identify a national random cross-sectional sample of high school nurses in the United States (N?=?750). A valid and reliable survey…

Background: HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of illness and death in the United States with individuals between the ages of 13 and 19 years being especially vulnerable for infection. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes, perceptions, and instructional practices of high school health teachers toward teaching HIV prevention.…

Background: Superintendents' perceptions regarding the effect of health insurance status on academics, the role schools should play in the process of obtaining health insurance, and the benefits/barriers to assisting students in enrolling in health insurance were surveyed. Superintendents' basic knowledge of health insurance, the link between…

Background: Sleep duration affects the health of children and adolescents. Shorter sleep durations have been associated with poorer academic performance, unintentional injuries, and obesity in adolescents. This study extends our understanding of how adolescents perceive and deal with their sleep issues. Methods: General education classes were…

Background: Pedestrian injury is the third leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children 1-14 years old. The purpose of this study was to examine primary grade teachers' perceived role in pedestrian safety education. Methods: A total of 630 surveys were sent to a national random sample of primary school teachers and 54% responded.…

Background: School health education can effectively help reduce the prevalence of health-risk behaviors among students and have a positive influence on students' academic performance. This article describes the characteristics of school health education policies and programs in the United States at the state, district, school, and classroom…

Background: The school nurse, the school social worker, and the school counselor play an important role in promoting the health of children. Health services in the school setting provide opportunities to appraise, protect, and promote student health. The purpose of this study was to identify parents' or caregivers' perceptions and beliefs…

The purpose of this study was to examine Ohio parents' perceptions of the role of elementary schools in preventing childhood overweight. In the United States, overweight is the most widespread health threat facing children and adolescents. Schools may be a useful point of intervention in addressing the escalating prevalence of childhood overweight…

This national study assessed elementary, school teachers' (n = 352)firearm safety education activities and perceptions using a 3-wave mailing survey. One percent of the teachers reported receiving undergraduate training regarding firearm safety. Yet, 12% claimed to be well prepared or very well prepared to teach firearm safety. Most teachers had…

Describes the prevalence of school bullying behavior, noting the physical, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of children involved in school bullying; examining related issues (interpersonal relationships, family environment, physical health, and academic and school issues); looking at attitudes/perceptions regarding bullying; and…

Surveyed primary school teachers regarding knowledge of head lice, self-efficacy in handling head lice, and preferred information sources. Teachers needed more knowledge about head lice. About half had high efficacy expectations regarding their ability to control the spread of lice. Most reported receiving information from school nurses. Knowledge…

Investigated mothers' perceptions of factors contributing to school violence. Surveys of mothers of junior high school students in urban and suburban settings suggested no significant overall differences in perceptions of predisposing factors among urban and suburban mothers. Most did not perceive characteristics of urbanicity as contributing…

Surveys of high school health educators nationwide examined perceived self-efficacy in identifying adolescents at risk for suicide. Only 9% believed they could recognize a student at risk for suicide. Most teachers considered it their role to recognize students at risk and believed that if they did recognize such students, it would reduce the…

Explored sixth graders' sexual behavior and behavior intentions, analyzing health-related risk behaviors and constructs from social support and social cognitive theories based on race and gender regarding their predictive value for students having sexual intercourse. Survey data indicated that very few students had sexual intercourse or other high…