Applying the School Health Index to a nationally representative sample of schools.

The School Health Index (SHI) is a self-assessment and planning tool that helps individual schools identify the strengths and weaknesses of their health policies and programs. To determine the percentage of US schools meeting the recommendations in the SHI, the present study analyzed data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000. The SHPPS 2000 data were collected through computer-assisted personal interviews with faculty and staff in a nationally representative sample of schools. The SHPPS 2000 questions were then matched to SHI items to calculate the percentage of schools meeting the recommendations in 4 areas: school health and safety policies and environment, health education, physical education and other physical activity programs, and nutrition services. Although schools nationwide are meeting a few SHI items in each of these areas, few schools are addressing the entire breadth of items. A more coordinated approach to school health would help schools reinforce health messages.

A review of interventions to reduce tobacco use in colleges and universities.

BACKGROUND: Interventions have been designed to reduce the prevalence of smoking in college/university students. This review presents a summary and synthesis of the interventions published in English from 1980 to the present. METHODS: Seven databases were searched for relevant published articles, and reference lists were examined for additional published studies. The studies were categorized as (1) individual approaches, such as on-campus cessation programs, and (2) institutional approaches, such as smoke-free policies. The studies were categorized by type of institution and geographic location, study design, sample demographics, and outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were identified; only five received a "satisfactory" rating based on evaluation criteria. Most studies were based on convenience samples, and were conducted in 4-year institutions. Seven studies used comparison groups, and three were multi-institutional. Individual approaches included educational group sessions and/or individual counseling that were conducted on campus mostly by healthcare personnel. None used nicotine replacement or other medications for cessation. The quit rates for both smokeless tobacco and cigarette users varied, depending on definitions and duration of follow-up contact. Institutional interventions focused mainly on campus smoking restrictions, smoke-free policies, antitobacco messages, and cigarette pricing. Results indicated that interventions can have a positive influence on student behavior, specifically by reducing tobacco use (i.e., prevalence of cigarette smoking and use of smokeless products, amount smoked) among college students, and increasing acceptability of smoking policies and campus restrictions among both tobacco users and nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: While some promising results have been noted, rigorous evaluations of a wider range of programs are needed, along with studies that address cultural and ethnic diversity on campuses.

Youth Tobacco Cessation Collaborative and National Blueprint for Action.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the formation of the Youth Tobacco Cessation Collaborative (YTCC), a voluntary collaborative of leading funders of youth tobacco cessation research and services. METHODS: The long-term goal and specific short-term (2-year) goals, strategies, and accomplishments are briefly described with reference to its guiding action plan: National Blueprint for Action: Youth and Young Adult Tobacco-Use Cessation. RESULTS: Aiming to accelerate the pace of discovery and application, YTCC efforts have created a strategic vision for making progress toward filling key knowledge and intervention gaps. CONCLUSIONS: Lessons learned about effective partnership are reviewed, and future directions are described.

Tobacco and other drug use among high school students with asthma.

The 2003 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey data were analyzed to compare drug use among high school students with and without asthma. High school students with current asthma used cigarettes, cigars, marijuana, and inhalants (huffing) at rates equal to or greater than high school students without current asthma.