Discusses what is currently known about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), including routes for the transmission of the AIDS virus, the prevention of AIDS, and some of the non-issues regarding the disease. Urges community leaders and teachers to become more involved in AIDS education. (TW)

Some directions and influences on dental research activities in the near future are discussed. Current challenges include international competition, fellowships, and equipment. Potential research activity includes preventive medicine, epidemiology, chronic illness, the elderly, bioengineering, materials research, nutrition, soft tissue research,…

Areas of concern for health educators who work with older Americans are addressed, including: (1) the nature of the aging population; (2) their health status and needs; and (3) impact of federal policies on their care. Health educators should dispel stereotypes, focus on wellness, and advocate consumerism. (PP)

The profession of medicine has a central role to play in ushering in the new paradigm of a health care system that will invest its efforts in health promotion and disease prevention on the one hand and in treatment and rehabilitation of the sick and injured on the other. (MLW)

The Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa) was founded to address underrepresentation of blacks in health professions and inadequate health care in the homelands. It trains most allied health professionals in the country, emphasizing community service and preventive medicine. Medunsa and American health professions schools can learn from…

Summarizes 25 reports addressing the interconnectedness of children's health and education and incorporating a comprehensive health approach, detailing 5 themes: education and health are interrelated; social morbidities threaten public health; a comprehensive, integrated approach is needed; health promotion and education should center around…

Efficiently and inexpensively identifying athletes at risk for exercise-related sudden death is difficult. The article discusses types of cardiac disorders and outlines a practical screening method that features a cardiac history questionnaire designed to identify symptomatic athletes and those with a family history of congenital heart disease.…

A study investigated the ability of 415 medical students at four North Carolina medical schools to ask risk-behavior questions and provide risk-reduction advice when interviewing a standardized patient concerned about human immunovirus (HIV) infection. A majority did not assess several important risk factors, and many would have provided incorrect…

The effect of a behavioral sciences course on first-year medical students' attitudes toward social factors as determinants of health or illness, preventive medicine, paramedical cooperation, physician-patient relationships, government role in health care, and general liberalism was found to be minimal immediately after the course. (MSE)

A rural, hospital-based, community mental health program at Keams Canyon Indian Hospital (Arizona) utilizes an array of remedial, developmental, and preventive strategies to respond to the unique biopsychosocial needs of the Navajo and Hopi populations. Outpatient, outreach, and aftercare programs, and development of treatment and consulting…

A health education lesson should be designed as part of a planned curriculum. The curriculum components need to be organized around health topic areas and health concepts. An identification of long range goals needs to be made. (JN)

A model is presented that relates health promotion and disease prevention (HPDP) education to desired characteristics of medical school graduates, including knowledge and sense of ability in the HPDP field, specialty preference, and residency choice. The model facilitates: program evaluation using standard data sets, and identification of…

Community-based medical education is key to training physicians to work in needy fields such as outpatient care and health care for the medically underserved. Describes the disadvantages of traditional medical school curricula and presents sample community health curricula now being used. Suggests ways to increase medical students' awareness of…

With federal officials leading high profile efforts to encourage HIV/AIDS prevention and new funding, blacks in academia are hopeful that more colleagues will join the fight. Notes some well-established models of community education, the emerging HIV/AIDS research agenda, the critical role of historically black medical schools in the HIV…

A study of the use of dental hygienists to teach periodontics, preventive dentistry, community dentistry, and public health courses looked at employment patterns and practices and the qualifications of the teachers. (MSE)