A survey of American medical school preventive medicine curricula found more emphasis on teaching and evaluation of students in areas of clinical preventive services and quantitative methods and less emphasis on community services and health services organization and delivery. Written tests and unstructured observation were the most common methods…

A study investigated the effectiveness of and student perceptions of a medical school curriculum segment on universal precautions against blood-borne diseases and techniques of phlebotomy and intravenous insertion using universal precautions. Additional voluntary training was offered. Results indicate the training significantly improved student…

This paper discusses the success of methods used in the community to increase immunization levels among children. Using a population-wide model, data were obtained from a combined, city-county health department in Missouri. While the methods used by free school clinics and public clinics were found to be effective methods in promoting…

The author discusses the relationship between education and health care costs. He examines the causes for increased costs, health promotion, cost effectiveness, the personal health passport, and nutrition programs. (CT)

A framework and concepts for developing inclusion criteria for meta-analysis are presented and illustrated in a meta-analysis of primary studies in patient education for preventive health services. Of 5,451 citations located and abstracts screened, 64 studies eventually met acceptability criteria. (SLD)

A survey of 142 U.S. and Canadian medical schools compared medical school curricula since 1991, especially in schools moving to the new interdisciplinary format. Thirty- five schools had retained preventive medicine teaching as a separate course; 25 schools integrated preventive medicine concepts into many courses; and 10 schools appeared to have…

This paper critically reviews the federally funded Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Testing (EPSDT) program, and highlights problems in its design and functioning. A prime example of a preventive health program that is commendable in intent but ineffective in actual practice, the EPSDT program's failure was prompted by factors which…

Reviews the positive effects of patient education, including the physician patient relationship, improvements in health status, and cost effectiveness. The status of hospital libraries in Nigeria is described, and suggestions for the implementation of patient education programs are made. (5 references) (CLB)

As part of a series of reports designed to support the implementation of Proposition 10: The California Children and Families Act and to provide comprehensive and authoritative information on critical issues concerning young children and families in California, this report describes the scope and severity of early childhood caries (ECC), a…

Research evidence on the potentials of health education for contributing to resolution of national health issues was reviewed. It is concluded that greater investments in health education on selected problems for selected populations would yield a better cost-benefit return than comparable investments in tertiary medical care. High priority groups…

Examines elements of programs that have been successful at changing long-term outcomes among disadvantaged children and their families: delivering a wide array of services, building relationship of trust and respect, dealing with children as part of a family, and responding to those most at risk. Suggests ways to overcome barriers to multiplying…

This review evaluates the accuracy of diabetes mellitus coverage in selected mass-circulating women's magazines from 1995 through 2001. The ProQuest database was searched to obtain all citations from five women's magazines ("Better Homes and Gardens," "Good Housekeeping," "Ladies' Home Journal," "Family Circle," and "Woman's Day") and three…

Preliminary results from the Health Care Reform Tracking Project's baseline survey and site visits to 10 states show that managed care has generally improved access to health care for children, but it has made it more difficult for youths with serious emotional disorders, and uninsured children, to obtain care. (SLD)

A nationwide campaign to improve and maintain immunization levels for selected preventable childhood diseases was instituted in 1977, and another program, whose goal was to eliminate indigenous measles by 1982, was instituted in 1978. Immunization levels have improved so much that attention is now focused on ways to maintain these high levels.…

An effective way to prevent coronary heart disease in later life is to concentrate on preventive measures in the early years before coronary heart disease becomes established. Project SuperHeart, a heart disease intervention program for young children, includes physical fitness and classroom activities emphasizing basic nutritional habits. (JN)