Health activation assumes that through knowledge and techniques people will become aware of what makes up health, take on greater responsibility for their own health, use the health care system properly, and improve the patient-provider relationship with this new awareness. (Author)

A school-based fluoride program promises to decrease the amount of dental decay among elementary school children. (JD)

Detailed recommendations for integrating preventive medicine into residency education and the continuum of medical care are outlined, with the goal of putting the patient's health rather than disease process into the forefront of primary care. Suggestions are based on a guide assessing the effectiveness of 169 types of preventive intervention.…

A description is given of an exercise program designed to improve the physical condition and health of older adults. (JD)

This study was designed to determine how effective an instructional program about cancer prevention might be in changing the knowledge and behavior of teenage females. (MM)

This book paints a broad picture of the role of exercise in children's health and provides information for the physician and other health care providers on healthful forms of physical activity for children. The book is divided into three parts: (1) "Developmental Exercise Physiology: The Physiological Basis of Physical Fitness in Children"; (2)…

Some children in American schools have known and unknown communicable diseases, including herpes, cytomegalovirus, AIDS, mononucleosis, pinworms, and hepatitis. This article examines major public health issues, school responsibility, preventative measures (like basic hygiene), and the need for more effective community education programs. A disease…

The properties of three critical elements in the human diet are discussed. In the first section, the functions of sodium in the body and in the diet are considered. The relationship between sodium and hypertension is explored, and recommendations from professional health groups on the sodium consumption are presented. In the second section, the…

Disease education is a content area included in most health education curricula. The disease unit assists the student in developing an understanding of specific communicable diseases. Following the unit, students should be able to describe the etiology, process, and treatment of specific diseases. (JN)

A physician presents teachers with some classroom activities in medical self-care, including anatomy, measuring pulse, relaxation, biofeedback, yoga, and throat examinations. For a related article by the same author, see pages 66-72 of this issue. (SJL)

Curricular guidelines developed by the American Association of Dental Schools for use by individual educational institutions as curriculum development aids are provided. The guidelines were developed by the Sections on Community and Preventive Dentistry and Practice Administration. (MLW)

A survey of 113 graduates of the State University of New York at Stony Brook dental school now in general practice found a high rate of self-reported use of preventive practices (oral hygiene instruction, pit-and-fissure sealants, fluorides, and diet analysis) included in the dental school's curriculum. (MSE)

Focusing on innovative and cost-effective alternatives to traditional, custodial, and institutional health care systems, the papers in these proceedings identify the contributions of nursing and the benefits for patients of the new national emphasis on cost-effective health care. The proceedings contain: (1) "Trends in Health Promotion:…

The National Preventive Dentistry Demonstration Program was conducted to assess the costs and benefits of combinations of school-based preventive dental care procedures. The program involved almost 30,000 elementary school children from 10 sites across the country. Classroom procedures, such as weekly fluoride mouthrinse, were administered or…

A physician and a teacher taught medical self-care skills to first and second graders. Content was based on students' own questions about physical examination techniques and basic health care. Appended is a discussion of school health education by a self-care advocate. A related article begins on page 86. (SJL)