RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the continuing-education needs of the currently employed public health education workforce. METHODS: A national consensus panel of leading health educators from public health agencies, academic institutions, and professional organizations was convened to examine the forces creating the context for the work of public health educators and the competencies they need to practice effectively. RESULTS: Advocacy; business management and finance; communication; community health planning and development, coalition building, and leadership; computing and technology; cultural competency; evaluation; and strategic planning were identified as areas of critical competence. CONCLUSIONS: Continuing education must strengthen a broad range of critical competencies and skills if we are to ensure the further development and effectiveness of the public health education workforce.
Asunto(s)
Educación Continua , Competencia Profesional/normas , Práctica de Salud Pública/normas , Salud Pública/educación , Habilitación Profesional , Educación en Salud/organización & administración , Promoción de la Salud/organización & administración , Humanos , Evaluación de Necesidades , Estados Unidos , Recursos HumanosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To compare the chronic disease health risk behavior patterns of adolescents and adults among American Indians living on or near reservations in Montana. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 1993 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of American Indians in Grades 9-12 living on or near Montana reservations. Risk factors included tobacco use, low physical activity, attempted weight loss, and low consumption of fruits, vegetables, and green salad. Similar data were analyzed from a 1994 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey of American Indian adults living on or near reservations in Montana. RESULTS: The prevalence of most adolescent health risk behaviors was high, especially cigarette smoking (45% for males, 57% for females), smokeless tobacco use (44% for males, 30% for females), and infrequent consumption of salad or vegetables (59-76%). With the exception of daily cigarette smoking and inadequate fruit consumption among adolescents of both genders and physical inactivity among adolescent males, the prevalence of chronic disease health risk behaviors among adolescents was similar to or higher than the prevalence of the same risk behaviors among adults. CONCLUSIONS: Many health risk behaviors for chronic diseases are common by the time this group of American Indians in Montana has reached adolescence. Possible reasons may include modeling of familial behaviors, peer pressure, advertising, or age cohort effects. If these risk behavior patterns continue into adulthood, morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases are likely to remain high. Substantial efforts are needed to prevent or reduce health risk behaviors among adolescents and adults in this population.
Asunto(s)
Conducta del Adolescente/etnología , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud/etnología , Indígenas Norteamericanos/estadística & datos numéricos , Asunción de Riesgos , Adolescente , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Enfermedad Crónica/epidemiología , Intervalos de Confianza , Estudios Transversales , Dieta Reductora/estadística & datos numéricos , Conducta Alimentaria/etnología , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Indígenas Norteamericanos/psicología , Estilo de Vida/etnología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Montana/epidemiología , Plantas Tóxicas , Prevalencia , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Sexuales , Fumar/epidemiología , Tabaco sin HumoRESUMEN
In November 1990, voters in Montana defeated an initiative that would have increased the state's excise tax on a pack of cigarettes by 25 cents. The increased revenues were intended for tobacco education and research. Opponents of the measure, primarily tobacco companies, outspent proponents by more than 35 to 1. Their primary themes were opposition to new taxes and to a larger state bureaucracy. Based on the results of initiative campaigns in Montana and California, taxation initiatives are more likely to succeed if guidance is sought from leaders of similar campaigns in other states, tobacco control coalitions are built and funding secured early, and polling conducted before initiative measures are finalized. Other requirements for success include careful wording of the initiative, strong leadership, consideration of a paid petition drive, effective use of the news media, anticipating opposition arguments, and emphasizing the benefits of the tax increase in the campaign.