Delivering the Science and the Art of Health Promotion

Robert F. Allen
Symbol of HOPE
Award

345

350

354

Effects of a Self-determination Theory-based Mail-mediated Intervention on Adults' Exercise Behavior

One hundred eighty-five volunteers were randomly assigned to a control, intervention, or intervention-plus-booster group. Controls received an American Heart Association physical activity facts packet. The intervention group received a four-page packet designed to promote perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness with regard to exercise. The booster group received a postcard emphasizing the points in the earlier packet. Compliance in reading and using the materials was low and there were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in exercise levels or other variables. The intervention may have been too minimal to have an impact.

The Relationships Between Delivery Agents' Physical Activity Level and the Likelihood of Implementing a Physical Activity Program

Among the 91 county agents responsible for health promotion in Kansas, those who were physically active were 14.12 times more likely to implement the Walk Kansas Program developed at the state level, after controlling for self-efficacy and value of exercise. Raw implementation rates were 69% among those who were active, 41% among those who were less active, and 11% among those who were inactive.

The Relationships Among Constructs in the Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model Among African-American College Women for Physical Activity

A study of a convenience sample of 233 African-American college students showed that perceived barriers to physical activity were progressively lower and perceived severity of consequences and self-efficacy were progressively higher for the more advanced stages (maintenance, action) of the transtheoretical model than the less advanced stages (precontemplation, contemplation).

Peggy Reynolds
Debbie E. Goldberg
Susan Hurley
The California Teachers Study Steering Committee

Nina L. Alesci
Raymond G. Boyle
Gestur Davidson
Leif I. Solberg
Sanne Magnan

358

366

Prevalence and Patterns of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposures Among California Teachers

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was analyzed among 61,889 California teachers who were lifetime never smokers and responded to a questionnaire in 1997. Lifetime exposure was lowest (67%) among women 20–29 and highest among women 40–49. Prior to 1970, households were the primary exposure setting, and peaked in the 1950s at 37%. During the 1980s, the workplace was the primary exposure setting at 28% and home and work were comparable in the 1990s at 10%. Childhood exposure was greater than adulthood exposure for all age groups.

 Does a Health Plan Effort to Increase Smokers' Awareness of Cessation Medication Coverage Increase Utilization and Cessation?

A sample of 1930 smokers who were members of a Minnesota health plan were randomly assigned to receive information about a smoking cessation medication benefit by standard contract language changes communicated with all other changes at annual enrollment or to also receive two informational postcards. Those who received the postcard were more aware of the benefit (39.0% vs. 22.2%), but did not have higher utilization of Bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy utilization, or cessation rates.

Among respondents to the 2000 National Health Interview Survey who had seen a physician in the past 12 months, 21.3% had received advice on diet and 24.5% on exercise. Those who were middle-aged (AOR = 1.14) and had a college degree (AOR = 1.78), used hospital outpatient clinic for usual care (AOR = 2.36), had poor self rated health status (AOR = and were obese (AOR = were more likely to receive advice. African-Americans (AOR = .78), and foreign-born immigrants (AOR = .57) were less likely to receive advice.

terview Survey who had seen a physician in the past 12 months, 21.3% had received advice on diet and 24.5% on exercise. Those who were middle-aged (AOR = 1.14) and had a college degree (AOR = 1.78), used hospital outpatient clinic for usual care (AOR = 2.36), had poor self rated health status (AOR = and were obese (AOR = were more likely to receive advice. African-Americans (AOR = .78), and foreign-born immigrants (AOR = .57) were less likely to receive advice.

 22-14 Four questions related to short trips made by walking were added to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for the 3808 people interviewed in Michigan in 2001. Three-quarters of Michigan residents took short trips within the seven days previous to the interview, but only 36% walked at least one of those trips. Overall, 21% of short trips were walked among this group.

DataBase: Research and Evaluation Results 

398

The Art of Health Promotion

This edition of the Art of Health Promotion provides a very useful focus on three special population groups that can benefit from unique approaches to health promotion. These three populations include: older adults, employees and students of institutions for higher education and racial and ethnic populations. Each of these special population groups provide some discrete and noteworthy challenges for the delivery of health promotion programming. A panel of contributing authors for each population has addressed these challenges, providing a sense of the importance of health promotion to each population, special health promotion practices and a conclusion with references and resources.

Patricia Fabiano
Paula Lee Swinford

Joseph G. Grzywacz
Shari McMahan
Janet R. Hurley
Daniel Stokols
Kimari Phillip

6

8

Serving Higher Education Communities With Health Promotion

Serving Racial and Ethnic Populations With Health Promotion

Editorial comments on the need for stronger advocacy for these special population groups are offered in the Closing Thoughts column.

American Journal of Health Promotion |  248-682-0707