In a study of 702 pharmacists in 211 communities, an effort was made to determine the effect of a unit of education on the community pharmacist's ability and/or tendency to detect the early warning signs of cancer when manifested by patrons. The success of such a program is shown. (LBH)

Recent Institute of Medicine directives for better use of oral health services can not be accomplished without health services research. One central research need concerns outcomes and effects of dental treatment. This will require better measures of a patient's oral health status, data on cost-effectiveness of common dental procedures, practice…

This article provides a framework to help school nurses decide which roles are appropriate in school settings and how health education fits into their roles. The article discusses school nurses' training and qualifications, specific roles in staff health promotion that use nurses' unique abilities, and how nurses can advocate for comprehensive…

The Emory University (Georgia) Center for Clinical Evaluation Sciences is designed as an analytical resource for the university's health care delivery system and to promote health services research across the university. It also has potential as a resource for training medical students, house staff, and faculty in the evaluative clinical sciences.…

Describes three community health center projects to develop and expand school-based mental health and violence prevention services. Key project features include: customized services; effective referral systems; confidentiality measures; and appropriate space, location, and staffing. Principal issues are integration and coordination, funding, and…

Discusses whether it is possible for the AIHEC and tribal colleges to reverse poor eating habits and decrease diabetes rates for children through education. Students are gathered in a camp setting and they learn from scientists, nurses, nutritionists, biologists, and cultural teachers about how they can develop healthy habits. (MZ)

This article presents results from an outcomes-based needs assessment in an urban child welfare service district. The assessment's methodology emphasized consistent data collection from actual case records and explicitly included line staff and clients in the planning process. It was concluded that such reviews could benefit a variety of…

A "policy communities" framework is proposed to explain why three evaluations of home care and services for the elderly in Quebec (Canada) either influenced, or failed to influence, policymaking in the area. It is suggested that program evaluation strategies should reflect the political context of the evaluation. (SLD)

Describes changes in management and accreditation among Canadian health organizations caused by changing federal transfer payments and philosophies of service. Examines the status quo of evaluation in organizations based on either quality assurance or continuous quality improvement. Challenges facing evaluators in the health care sector are…

Chaos theory, which attempts to understand underlying order where none is apparent, was applied to an interdisciplinary rural health training program for health professionals. Similar programs should anticipate systemic flux between order and chaos and pay attention to information flow, degree of diversity, richness of connectivity, contained…

Medical schools have increasingly ignored underserved communities' needs. Descriptions of five demonstration programs show how community-driven approaches to medical education involve academic and rural communities, select students from underserved areas, and train learners in undeserved communities. The approach also supports underserved…

Discusses the demographic realities of children of color in the U.S., with a focus on health care needs and access issues that have an enormous influence on health status. An ecologic model is presented that incorporates cultural values and community structures into the school health center. (Contains 50 references.) (GCP)

Recognizing categorical models that reflect an "at risk" approach to serving children, this article advocates an expanded focus on the protective factors and assets that contribute to healthy development via the capacity for resilience. Addresses: (1) a systemic approach to enhancing resilience; (2) resiliency in concert with…

Reports on a study of the way children are provided for in Scandinavia and explores those aspects of the child-care system which are potentially adaptable to American needs. Topics include prenatal and health care, parental leave, home child care, and the cost of education. (IAH)

Discusses the value of home-based mental health services for Indian families alienated from traditional support systems or resistant to the clinic setting. Examines historical factors relevant to dysfunctional Indian families, components of effective therapy, funding issues, and limits of confidentiality. Contains 14 references and 4 composite…