Attitudes and Practices of University Health Education Faculty Related to Alternative Medicine

This study determined attitudes and practices, including gender differences, of university health education faculty regarding advocacy and use of alternative medicine. A random sample of health education instructors from institutions offering degrees in health education was surveyed using a written questionnaire. Health education instructors from 41 out of 48 states and territories with programs in health education responded to this survey, comprising a total of 220 usable responses. Results of this survey indicated health education instructors were more likely than the general population to use alternative medicine therapies. The majority of instructors who used such therapies reported high to moderate levels of satisfaction. Significant gender differences were uncovered regarding use, satisfaction, and advocacy for alternative medicine.

HEAD (Health Education Across the Disciplines)

Health Education Across the Disciplines (HEAD) is an intervention strategy to integrate alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and addiction lessons into disciplines other than health. Follow-up integration activities to Defining Addiction Activity is presented. Two other lesson plan examples of integrating alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and addiction lessons into disciplines other than health are presented.

Inter-Professional Education Saturday Seminar

A teaching methodology was developed by a group of faculty from several departments who prepare undergraduate students for careers in health and human services. The three hour experience teaches them to work in interdisciplinary teams to develop case management skills by working on a complex case study. Approximately 260 students, 15 faculty, and 15 local agency representatives were involved in the most recent event.

Teaching About Interdisciplinary Health Lesson Plans In Middle School And High School

As part of the study for potential teacher candidates in the California State University credentialing program, it is necessary to introduce these future middle school and high school teachers to a health framework and curricular issues involving teaching about adolescent health. These new teacher candidates are required by state law to have an understanding of what adolescence is, and comprehension about the health status of teens. They must also provide a healthy environment in which students can learn. Additionally, these teachers may teach health in the secondary arena.

Lifestyle Change for Weight Loss in the Inner-City

In low-income minority communities, there is high prevalence and clustering of obesity, coronary heart disease, dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Evidence suggests one way to treat and prevent these conditions is through a very low-fat, high fiber, vegetarian diet. A feasibility study was conducted to determine whether inner-city African American and Latino patients will accept a low-fat vegetarian diet and to assess attitudes about the life-style intervention. Reductions in fat and animal products were acceptable, though complete conversion to vegetarianism was not. Meanwhile, group support was the most highly rated component of the class. Contrary to common perceptions of immigrants needing to maintain traditional habits, the Latino participants enthusiastically adopted new concepts and incorporated new recipes into their diet. Weight loss was achieved during the 8 week course and continued through 18 month follow-up. It appears that individual empowerment through the group intervention, coupled with simple diet messages, supported life-style change in a high-risk group.

Trends and Differentials in California Fertility Rates 1970-2000

In this article we examined fertility trends in the State of California from 1970 to 2000. During this period, the population of California increased 69.0 percent, while the percentage of females in the prime reproductive years (15-44) increased 76.5 percent. The number of live births increased from 362,652 in 1970 to a high of 611,666 in 1990 and stood at 531,285 in 2000. There were significant shifts in agespecific fertility rates during the 30-year period. Live births per 1,000 females declined in age categories 15-19, 20-24 and 25-29 and increased in age categories 30-34, 35-39 and 40-44, suggesting the postponement of child bearing until the later portion of the reproductive cycle. With the exception of 1970 and 1971, total fertility rates were below replacement level fertility through 1986. From 1987 to 2000, they exceeded replacement level fertility, suggesting fertility has returned as a prime factor in the growth of California’s population. With shifting fertility patterns and a diverse racial/ethnic population, the need for education and prenatal care remain as significant policy issues.

Every 15 Minutes

This study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of “Every 15 Minutes,” a popular drinking/driving prevention program. Participants were 1651 students in 81 California high schools. Pretest/post-tests comparisons revealed that student participating in the program as the “living dead” characters reported drinking less, being more likely to talk to their friends about drinking and driving, and being less likely to drive after drinking or ride with someone who had been drinking.