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Health education and food safety behavior in the university setting.

Health education in colleges and universities offers an opportunity to reach a captive audience of young people in order to promote a lifetime of healthy behavior. University health education typically focuses on topics such as alcohol and substance abuse, sexual behavior, and nutrition. Environmental health issues are not a prominent component of university health education, even though an understanding of a healthy environment is critical to promoting overall health. Food safety is an environmental health issue of particular concern in universities since many young adults prepare their own meals for the first time there. Food safety questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey were used to assess the behaviors of 354 upper-level undergraduate students. Findings from the survey indicate that students are engaging in risky food consumption and handling behaviors and that the educational techniques mandated by the federal government are ineffective in reaching college students.

Adolescent↗

[Evaluation of information sources and the effectiveness of health education in the North Bohemian Region, as indicated by knowledge of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases].

In May 1988 in the North Bohemian region an anonymous enquiry was made among a representative group of 3,767 respondents which was focused among others on problems of health education. The respondents consider the most important source of health education in 60.37% a talk with their doctor, in 37.67% television and in 17.67% lectures. Newspaper articles, pamphlets and films are rated roughly equally (cca 5% of the respondents). Posters are negligible as a source of health education. Health education is most appreciated by the oldest age group and least by respondents aged 16-30 years. It is necessary to prefer the most appreciated forms of health education and to seek contents and forms attractive for the youngest group of patients. Part of the enquiry was focused on knowledge of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Smoking is considered generally most harmful, less than half know about the harmfulness of stress, few respondents know that diabetes is a risk factor (26.3%). The most frequently incorrectly mentioned factor was alcohol.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of a health education program for preventing alcohol and tobacco abuse in a health unit in Lombardi, Italy].

The effectiveness of a health education programme for prevention of alcohol abuse and tobacco smoking among adolescents was assessed by an intervention study with a non-randomized control group. The study was carried out among 7th-9th grade school students in a Local Health Unit of the Brescia province, North Italy. Students were enrolled in either the intervention or the control group, based on the participation of their teachers to the educational programme. A total of 428 students were involved in the programme representing the intervention group, and 658 students not involved in the programme formed the control group. The health education programme included the prevention of alcohol abuse in the first school year (1989-90) and the prevention of tobacco smoking in the second year (1990-91). Each part of the programme included a series of lessons taken by the teachers for about 20 hours. Alcohol use and smoking habits, knowledge about, and attitudes toward alcohol and tobacco use of the students have been assessed by anonymous questionnaires. The questionnaires have been administered during school time at the beginning and the end of each school year, giving a total of 6 questionnaires, from Q1 to Q6. All the questionnaires included the same questions on alcohol and tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes. Of the 1086 students who attended the 7th grade in the year 1989-90, 428 were enrolled as intervention group and 658 as control group. As regards alcohol, the following findings were observed: 1. no difference was found in the percentages of students drinking at least one glass of wine or beer daily between the 2 groups at Q6; 2. no substantial change in the percentage of students aware of the health risks of alcohol abuse from Q1 to Q6 was observed. As regards tobacco smoking, the results of the study showed: 1. no difference between the 2 groups was found at Q6 as regards the proportion of students who smoked one or more cigarettes a month; 2. the percentages of students planning to smoke in the future were similar in the 2 groups in Q6; 3.the percentage of students with a high score on the health consequences of smoking was higher in the intervention than the control group at Q4, but again no difference between the groups was evident at Q6. In conclusion, the health education programme seemed to be unsuccessful in modifying behaviors and attitudes regarding alcohol and tobacco use during the 3-year follow-up.

Adolescent↗

Importance of planned health education for burn injury prevention.

The planning of health education in the prevention of burn injuries is typically incomplete and not stated explicitly, while the evaluation is executed only partially or is altogether non-existent. This article presents a theoretical framework for planning and evaluating health education for those at risk for burns. Systematic planning consists of an assessment of the magnitude and severity of the problem, an analysis of the behavioural risk factors, a study of the determinants of the most risky modes of behaviour, the design of an optimal intervention, and the implementation of this intervention. The evaluation phase deals with the effects on these five levels (implementation, intervention, determinants, behaviour and injury risk). Some common pitfalls are mentioned and special attention is given to the study of determinants of behaviour and to the design of the intervention. Furthermore, the importance of pretesting health education material is underlined. There appears to be a strong need for further research on the aetiology of burn injury and the relevant determinants of behaviour, before effective prevention can be realized.

Age Factors↗

The utility of health education among lead workers: the experience of one program.

Health education represents a fundamental tool in the prevention of occupational diseases. For lead-exposed workers, work practices, personal hygiene, and life habits are certainly influences in the amount of the metal absorbed in the body. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a health education program in 50 workers exposed to inorganic lead employed in seven small factories. The study was performed in 3 phases over one year. Before the program, blood lead levels were measured, and a questionnaire was administered in order to evaluate the baseline knowledge of the workers about lead poisoning and its prevention. After the health education program, the blood lead levels decreased (from 38.2 to 32.3 micrograms/dl) and the questionnaire scores improved in a highly significant manner (p < 0.001). These results were obtained both in the short (4 months) and in the medium term (1 year). The reduction of blood lead concentrations seemed to be due to changes in hygienic behaviors and life habits, such as alcohol consumption or cigarette smoking, probably induced by an increase in specific knowledge about the prevention of lead damages.

Adult↗

School health education research: future issues and challenges.

This paper presents the view that the dissemination of effective school health education constitutes a significant problem that deserves high priority on a national research agenda for school health education. Justification of dissemination is grounded in two presuppositions: (1) that there is a positive correlation between health education and the practice of health-enhancing behaviors and (2) that health education is an appropriate and fundamental task for schools. Two complex sub-problems are discussed. The first is related to the fact that there are no data to help us determine how many children in this country actually receive health information in schools. In addition, there is insufficient evidence to ascertain either the quality or quantity of health information children receive or where in the curriculum the presentation of that information occurs. The second problem pertains to the myriad of complex factors that impede the implementation of health education in schools. These two problems are re-cast into a series of researchable questions.

Adolescent↗

Microcomputer authoring systems: valuable tools for health educators.

Writing courseware with the aid of an authoring system is a bold step that can bring together the health education content expert and the power of the microcomputer. The microcomputer can be programmed to present essential knowledge to students in a low pressure setting, specifically geared to their levels of comprehension and rates of progression. Microcomputer-based simulations and patient management problems seem suited to the task helping students develop adequate problem-solving skills in health education (Lewis, 1983; Peterson, 1984). Furthermore, many lecture hours can be replaced by an infinitely patient tutor with which students can interact at their convenience. Creating self-study materials delivered via microcomputer is also a step toward providing the most effective type of learning experiences for individual students. Despite the fact that putting authoring systems in the hands of well-informed content specialists may meet a number of pressing needs in health education, there is one drawback. Authoring systems have a built-in pedagogical structure that, to some extent, dictates the design of the lesson. However, spending time in the evaluation process prior to purchase will enable educators to identify a system that can be used to develop courseware that very closely matches the desires of the author. Integrating microcomputer courseware into health education courses is certainly an attractive solution to some of the educational problems faced in health education today. An authoring system can be used to develop courseware that can substituted for lectures on basic concepts. In addition, students will have more opportunities to develop the ability to apply, in problem-solving situations, the factual knowledge they are learning before they are responsible for making judgments in real-life situations. The time is ripe, then, for health educators to investigate how authoring systems can help them utilize the technology of the microcomputer to improve health education.

Computer Literacy↗

Health education for the successful implementation of MDT.

The importance and goals of health education in leprosy are pointed out. The responsibilities of the health education are outlined. The role of health education in the context of the MDT programme is discussed.

Health Education↗

A cluster randomised, controlled trial of the value of dental health educators in general dental practice.

AIM: To test the effectiveness of dental health educators in general dental practice. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and cost of primary care trusts seconding dental health educators free of charge to suitable general dental practices to provide dental health counselling to mothers of regularly attending pre-school children at risk to caries. METHOD: Two-cell, parallel group, cluster randomised, controlled clinical trial of two years' duration. CLINICAL SETTING: 30 general dental practices in North-West England. PARTICIPANTS: 269 mothers of 334 pre-school children. INTERVENTIONS: Those in the test group were given visits to a dental health educator over a 2-year period to counsel mothers of at-risk, pre-school children. The rest were held as a control. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Caries prevalence of the children and dental health knowledge, attitudes and toothbrushing skills of the parents. The full costs of the exercise were kept throughout. The statistical analysis controlled for the clustering of children within practices. RESULTS: After 2 years, 271 (81%) children and 248 (92%) mothers remained in the study. There was an 18% difference in mean dmft between the groups in favour of the test group children but this was not statistically significant. At the end of the study there was an 18% difference in mean dmft between the groups in favour of the test group children but this was not statistically significant. No difference in plaque levels was found. The mothers in the test group were more knowledgeable, had better attitudes towards the dental health of their offspring and better toothbrushing skills than those in the control. Each 2-hour session to counsel ten parents cost pound 40. CONCLUSION: Primary care trusts should carefully consider the cost value of seconding dental health educators to counsel parents of regularly attending, at-risk, pre-school children when considering such an option.

Attitude to Health↗

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.

Adolescent↗

The Cardiovascular Health Education Program: assessing the impact on rural and urban adolescents' health knowledge.

In this research study, a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used to assess the impact of the Cardiovascular Health Education Program (CHEP) on the cardiovascular health knowledge of grade eight adolescents. A total of 146 adolescents participated in study, with 88 in the experimental group and 58 in the control group. One-hundred two of the adolescents resided in a rural region and 44 resided in an urban region in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The findings from this study indicate that the CHEP did have a significant positive impact on the cardiovascular health knowledge of the rural adolescents, but it did not have a comparable impact on the cardiovascular health knowledge of the urban adolescents. The findings also indicate that there was no significant difference between rural and urban cardiovascular health knowledge prior to implementing the program. These findings support the need for implementation of the CHEP within this population. This study also shows that nurses can design, implement, and evaluate community-based health promotion programs for targeted populations.

Adolescent↗

Effects of dental health education for mothers with young children in London.

Dental health education for mothers with young children is thought to be capable of achieving a high standard of dental health for these children. This study considers the dental health of a sample of 5-yr-old children whose mothers were given dental health education at an early stage in their child's life. The dental health education was given to one group during home visits and to a second through leaflets sent by post. Comparisons were made with a third group of children whose mothers had been randomly selected to form a control group. Sixty-nine percent of children whose mothers were given advice at home were caries free, compared to 58% of children in the control group. Scores for gingivitis were also significantly lower in the first group. No significant differences in disease levels were seen between children whose mothers had been sent leaflets through the post and those in the control group. In relation to the use of fluoride supplements, 25% of the children whose mothers had been given personal advice received fluoride supplements regularly throughout the period of the study. Children of these highly motivated mothers showed less caries (83% were caries free) and lower levels of gingivitis than children who had never received supplements.

Attitude to Health↗

Social action for health: emerging perspectives for health education.

Most of the world's major health problems and premature deaths are preventable. Health technology and scientific knowledge exists to combat health problems at an affordable cost. And, health education is recognized as a viable public health intervention and a vitally important means of addressing health challenges.

Developing Countries↗

Health education: structural vs. behavioral perspectives.

A study of alternative definitions and interpretations of health education in public policy resulted in the identification of a typology of differing perspectives. The two perspectives, behavioral and structural, are described in this paper, along with the three levels of health education programs. The study found: (1) an over-emphasis of public health education policies on individual behavioral changes and (2) a lack of focus in health education programs at the federal level. An analysis was done of the National Consumer Health Information and Health Promotion Act of 1976 to demonstrate these findings. The paper concludes that a balance between the two perspectives is needed, and it offers policy direction to support this conclusion.

Health Education↗

The practice of health education in acute care settings in Hong Kong: an exploratory study of the contribution of registered nurses.

A multiple case study design was used to explore the practice of health education in acute care settings in Hong Kong. Two case studies, a medical ward and a surgical ward, were selected to reflect the real setting in which nurses carry out health education in acute care. Data collection methods involved the use of non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Seven nurses and eight patients were interviewed to explore their understanding of health education concepts, the use made in the wards of health education and the factors influencing such practice in the acute settings. Individual and cross-case analysis showed that respondents' understanding of the concept of health education was limited to patient information-giving. Although the importance of health education in acute patient care was acknowledged, the degree to which health education featured in nurses' practice was minimal. Many available opportunities for health education were missed and factors such as nurses' busy-ness and the associated lack of time and staff were identified as influencing health education practice in these acute care settings. Implications for practice and future studies were discussed in the light of these findings.

Adult↗

Improving students' knowledge, attitude and practice towards cancer prevention through a health education program. Part II.

A health education program for cancer risk reduction was conducted among 649 students out of 896 for whom Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) had been obtained at the initial study. Three hundred and sixteen students acted as the intervented group and three hundred and thirty three were the control group. There was a great improvement in the percentage of correct knowledge answers in the majority of the questions from pre to post tests especially for the questions about the effect of excessive use of fatty foods (76.3%) and excessive use of salty foods (68.0%) on the occurrence of cancer. After the program, at least 87% or more of the students recognized the hazards of risky food, 86.1% knew that mothers who do not breast feed their infants have a greater chance of getting cancer breast, 51.3% responded correctly to the question about the effect of oral contraceptive pills after 40 years. More than 86% recognized the serious effect of prolonged exposure to the sun. A significant shift toward positive attitude was found especially with the item "I am very afraid to know that I have cancer, so I avoid going to the physician" (76.9%). It was found that 94% of the students agreed that there is a relation between the type of food and cancer. The students showed significant increases in median practice scores from pre to post tests and the larger gain associated with participants in the program (9.97%). The majority of the students reported increases in their daily consumption of fruits, cereals, leafy vegetables and salad. These significant changes in KAP scores from pre to post tests were noticed for both sexes, different social classes and different educational grades.

Attitude to Health↗