The Journal of school health
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The obligation to obtain informed consent for student participation in health-related research creates a complex set of legal, ethical, and administrative responsibilities because the interests of research integrity are delicately balanced against protection of human subjects. Even the term itself sparks a range of responses depending on one's perspective and stake in the process. This paper traces the historical impetus behind obtaining informed consent, identifies key elements comprising informed consent, and reviews types of consent procedures used in schools. The authors suggest 20 ways to boost response rates while providing a realistic level of informed consent for school-based studies.
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This survey determined if selected Texas public school districts provided an established child sexual abuse prevention program for elementary schools. The survey examined the type of program being implemented, training available for faculty and staff type of evaluation used, involvement of local agencies, and type of funding sources. Survey data were obtained from a nonrandomized sample of 89 largest public school districts in Texas, all recording an average daily attendance over 5,000. ⋯ Consistent, effective evaluation was minimal. Funding for prevention programs was limited or unknown. Results confirmed the need for consistent, effective child sexual abuse prevention programs in elementary schools.
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Priority health-risk behaviors, which contribute to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among youth and adults, often are established during youth, extend into adulthood, and are interrelated. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults--behaviors that contribute to unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (including human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection); unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. The YRBSS includes a national school-based survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state, territorial, and local school-based surveys conducted by education and health agencies. ⋯ In 1997, 36.4% of high school students had smoked cigarettes during the 30 days preceding the survey; 70.7% had not eaten five or more servings of fruits and vegetables during the day preceding the survey; and 72.6% had not attended physical education class daily. These YRBSS data are already being used by health and education officials to improve national, state, and local policies and programs to reduce risks associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. YRBSS data also are being used to measure progress toward achieving 21 national health objectives and one of the eight National Education Goals.
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This article reviews recent medical research on the relationship between young maternal age and the incidence of low birth weight infants. One line of research, "nature," emphasizes biological factors in early adolescence such as immaturity of the female reproductive system and inadequate prenatal weight gain. "Nurture," another research focus, stresses sociocultural attributes of teen mothers such as poverty and minority status. ⋯ Both biological and sociocultural factors, plus lifestyle choices made by adolescents, combine to raise or lower the risk of delivering a low birth weight infant. School health personnel need to link their health promotion efforts to those of other community organizations serving adolescents and their families.
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Clinical Trial
School-based management of chronic asthma among inner-city African-American schoolchildren in Dallas, Texas.
Asthma, a chronic disease of the respiratory tract, affects approximately five percent of the U. S. population, including almost five million children. Childhood asthma has been identified as the leading cause of school absences. ⋯ Data were collected for a number of variables including bronchodilator use, school absences, self-report of asthma symptoms, and number of visits to the physician. During the study, mean peak flow rates improved approximately 15%, and bronchodilator use decreased 66%. Improvement also was evident in several other areas.