ABSTRACT
Evaluation of school-based tobacco prevention and control programs have yielded mixed results. This study assessed the impact of the Life Skills Training curriculum on Marion County, Ind., middle school students' knowledge, attitudes, and ability to make good lifestyle decisions. From 1997 to 2000, students in grades six to eight in the study schools received the Life Skills Training curriculum. Survey data (n = 1,598) were used to compare tobacco use behavior, attitudes, and knowledge of those exposed with those not exposed to the program. Of the students surveyed, 12.5% were currently smoking. There were significantly fewer current smokers, and more students exposed to the program indicated they intended to stay smoke-free. Fewer of those participating in the program "hung out" with smokers and more said they could easily refuse a cigarette if offered one. Students completing the Life Skills Training curriculum were more knowledgeable about the health effects of smoking. Program effects were different for male and female students as well as for White and Black students.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Health Education/organization & administration , School Health Services/organization & administration , Smoking Prevention , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior/ethnology , Black or African American/education , Black or African American/psychology , Child , Curriculum , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Indiana , Male , Program Evaluation , Smoking/ethnology , Smoking/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , White People/education , White People/psychologyABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Although preparticipation screening for athletes is commonplace, few studies have addressed the issue for those officiating at games. OBJECTIVES: To review current data on physiologic stress on sports officials, to obtain prevalence data on health parameters for football officials, and to determine the outcomes when screening criteria are applied in preseason exams. METHODS: A protocol was established using health history questionnaires and physical exams with laboratory screening to assess the health of all football officials working in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) from 1997 to 2000. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of cardiac risk factors as determined by American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. RESULTS: Initial screening of 102 football officials revealed that 10.1% of SEC referees had elevated systolic blood pressure, 13.9% had elevated diastolic blood pressure, and 3.8% had resting tachycardia. Average body mass index (BMI) was 28.6 kg/m2, with 87.3% having a BMI that exceeded 25 (overweight). About one-third (31.6%) had a BMI greater than 30 (obese). Total fasting cholesterol exceeded 200 mg/dL in 44.2%, HDL levels were below 35 mg/dL in 34.3%, and LDL levels were above 120 mg/dL in 62.3%. Compared with age-adjusted national data, there were more overweight and more obese officials, but they had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures and lower mean total cholesterol levels. Using the Framingham Study prediction model to estimate coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, analysis revealed that referees had a lower risk than the national 10-year CHD risk but a higher risk compared with that of the low-risk population. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal a greater need for graded exercise testing. The higher rates of obesity among officials will promote further screening for CHD risk factors.
