Description and preliminary results from a structured specialist behavioural weight management group intervention: Specialist Lifestyle Management (SLiM) programme.

Background: Specialist Lifestyle Management (SLiM) is a structured patient education and self-management group weight management programme. Each session is run monthly over a 6-month period providing a less intensive long-term approach. The groups are patient-centred incorporating educational, motivational, behavioural and cognitive elements.

Impact of an immunization education program on middle school adolescents.

Objectives: To raise middle school student awareness, attitudes, and proactive behaviors about immunization, and to increase immunization rates among middle school students through implementation of a comprehensive integrated immunization promotion curriculum (Immunization Plus!)

Methods: Evaluation used a quasi-experimental non-equivalent comparison-groups design conducted in a sample of 40 classrooms in 22 schools in California.

Results: Sixth-grade students exposed to the curriculum developed more positive knowledge and attitudes, and were more likely to be immunized, to intend to obtain newly required immunizations, and to tell parents about immunizations.

Conclusion: Infectious disease control and immunizations are under-developed subject areas within school-based health promotion in the United States that can be effectively taught to middle school students.

Maternal predictors of infant health outcomes among Hawaiians.

Disaggregated data, vital statistics, and a comprehensive literature review were used to assess the relationship between Hawaiian maternal predictors and infant health outcomes. Despite near universal health care coverage, Hawaiians continue to use less prenatal care, have average rates of low birth weight and the highest infant mortality rates compared to other ethnic groups in Hawaii. Specific investigations and interventions are necessary to reduce the disparity of Hawaiian infant health outcomes.