Examines the key differences between the information industry and public libraries and describes the computerized Community Information Project of San Mateo County, California. (PF)

A multidisciplinary team from community organizations serving the homeless and from universities collaborated in screening 150 homeless adolescents for psychosocial and physical risks. The population had a history of physical, sexual, and substance abuse as well as high rates of HIV and hepatitis B. Case management by advanced practice nurses was…

Reports findings from a study that investigated how public libraries are using online community networks to facilitate the public's information-seeking and use in everyday situations. Highlights include barriers to using community information systems; the public's online information behavior, including social connectedness; the use of sense-making…

Survey responses from 58 nursing students and 15 focus group interviews showed that problem-based learning (PBL) improved understanding of multidisciplinary practice and challenged them to work together and tolerate other perspectives. One-third felt learning was hindered by uncertainty over the PBL process and organizational/group issues.…

This article discusses role delineation in the health education profession, defines and presents principles of health care marketing, describes marketing plan development, and examines major ethical issues associated with health care marketing when utilized by community health educators. A marketing plan format for community health education is…

Results of a study of 73 undergraduate interns in health education professional preparation programs are reported. The study utilized motivational theory, the Personal Investment Theory, to identify motivational characteristics of community health education interns and to analyze the interaction of these characteristics with characteristics of the…

Interviews with 56 practice nurses, 29 general practitioners (GPs), 23 health administrators, and 1 government official revealed that nurses use a variety of education and training opportunities; GPs largely let nurses take responsibility for their continuing education. The informal nature of training opportunities and lack of funding were…

Describes the Electronic Information Network, a project created by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in conjunction with public libraries in Pennsylvania's Allegheny County. The project uses the library's vision, funding, and librarian expertise to provide public access to community information on the Internet. Sidebars present steps and issues…

To combat extreme health conditions in Armenia, nurses and physicians were given pretraining in community health at home and additional training in the United States on change strategies and community-based practice. Unforeseen barriers to change hindered progress, but participants were committed to preventive community health care. (SK)

Casa en Casa, a popular education project of an Oakland, California, community health clinic, has two key weaknesses: volunteers received little orientation to the role of health promoter, and promoters were given content knowledge without development of the skills needed to use it. (SK)

A graduate program for community health nurses formed a partnership with a neighborhood to enhance community health behavior and teach nurses about community organizing. Major conflicts between community groups proved to be both powerful catalysts and potential barriers to the use of Freire's concepts in community organizing. (SK)

A case study of the use of ethnographic approaches in community organization and development demonstrates their utility in achieving health empowerment among communities of color. The importance of citizen participation in community-based health initiatives is stressed. (SK)

A health promotion program in the Mississippi Delta used an empowerment approach based on community competence factors: participation, commitment, self-other awareness, articulateness, conflict containment, social relations, participatory decision making, and social support. After one year, community competence moved from internal social…

A coalition of Boston universities, health care providers, and community agencies established academic-community health centers that combine service, education, and research. The centers give nursing students opportunities to learn in a community-based primary-care model. (SK)

Describes the helpfulness and availability of formal and informal services and supports available to non-offending parents in cases of intrafamilial sexual abuse. Findings indicate a high over all satisfaction with the services that were provided but parents report a gap between their needs and the availability of services. (Author/JDM)