Described is a health risk appraisal, a computer-based tool for health assessment and education. The appraisal attempts to determine the health interventions, or changes in behavior, most appropriate for an individual and to present them in a way that motivates change. (CJ)

The Computerized Health Risk Profile (CHRP) for adolescents, a health risk appraisal process, is a tool to assist in risk identification and an important component of a comprehensive health promotion program. The CHRP's development, field-tests, applications, and evaluations are described. (CJ)

The rationale for health education rests on the premise that the educated individual will make appropriate life-style decisions which will be beneficial to his/her health. (CJ)

A study was conducted to determine if behavior contracting promotes learning of behavior strategies beyond what is learned in health instruction. The ability of college students to remember and apply behavioral strategies to a personal health situation was the focus of the study. (DF)

The roles of the school, health education programs, and health education research in decreasing the risk of cardiovascular and heart disease are discussed. (CJ)

Health education at the college level has developed a variety of new curriculum approaches which emphasize behavior change. With the assumption that life-style contributes most to student health, a health course divided into four parts--diagnosis, prescription, action, and accountability--was developed. An attitude survey acted as an evaluation…

Results indicate that the described program is an effective learning device for altering negative health behavior patterns and for reinforcing positive health care activities. (LH)

Researchers investigated whether including a health risk appraisal instrument into a college health education course would motivate students to change health behavior. Use of the instrument produced a somewhat higher (but not significant) rate of behavior change than did taking the course, focused on life-style, alone. (PP)

Pros and cons of making behavior change a primary objective of health education are summarized. The individual's right to choose his/her lifestyle is emphasized; health educators are encouraged to use holistic approaches to health education, emphasizing not only physical consequences of behavior but emotional and social factors as well. (PP)

Businesses with limited resources to invest can successfully carry out programs that promote healthful behavior in their employees. The design and implementation of such a program, which encourages exercise, healthful eating, weight management, nonsmoking, and stress management, is described. (PP)