An Effort to Upgrade Perinatal Nursing Practice in Albania

In 1994 the Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, New York, and the University Hospital in Tirana, Albania, entered into a partnership designed to upgrade certain aspects of the health care system in Albania. During a 2-week trip, an American contingent of nurses and nurse-midwives worked to increase the knowledge base of Albanian nurses about some of the most important issues in perinatal care and of the roles of nurses and nurse-midwives in the United States as patient advocates and educators.     

The Health Education Profession in the 21st Century: Setting the Stage

ABSTRACT: This article contains proceedings from the June 16–17, 1995, conference in Atlanta, Ga., on The Health Education Profession in the 21st Century: Setting the Stage. The conference was co-sponsored by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., and the Coalition of National Health Education Organizations, USA. Appreciation is extended to Kelli McCormack Brown, PhD, CHES, William Cissell, PhD, CHES, Martha DuShaw, PhD, FASHA, CHES, Fern Goodhart, MS, CHES, Robert McDermott, PhD, FASHA, Kathleen Middleton, PhD, CHES, Marlene Tappe, PhD, CHES, and Valerie A. Welsh, MS, CHES, for their assistance in producing the proceedings.     

Participation in Activities Outside of School Hours in Relation to Problem Behavior and Social Skills in Middle Childhood

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that participating in activities outside of school hours is associated with lower dropout rates, enhanced school performance, improved social skills, and reduced problem behaviors. However, most prior studies have been limited to small populations of older children (>12 years). This analysis focuses on children aged 6 to 11 to assess the potential association between participation in activities outside of school hours and behavior in middle childhood in a nationally representative survey. METHODS: Estimates were based on 25,797 children from the 2003-2004 National Survey of Children's Health. Outside of school activity was defined as participating in sports teams/lessons, clubs/organizations, or both at least once in the past year. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the differences in behavior problems and social skills adjusting for sociodemographic factors, among children classified by participation in outside of school activities. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of children participated in outside of school activities: 23% in sports, 16% in clubs, and 36% in both clubs and sports. Activity participation differed by gender, race/ethnicity, type of school, poverty status, family structure, household education, and school and community safety. Children participating in both sports and clubs had higher social skills index scores, but no significant difference in problem behavior scores compared with children who did not participate in any outside of school activity. CONCLUSION: Children participating in both sports and clubs had greater social competence during middle childhood compared with children who did not participate in any outside of school activities.     

Nurse consultation support to primary care practices to increase delivery of health behavior services

Tobacco use, lack of physical activity, poor diet, and alcohol use are the key preventable causes of death in the United States. This study tested the use of nurses as consultants to primary care practices to assist practice clinicians and staff in identifying and carrying out plans to help their adult patients improve these health behaviors. A pre–post chart audit was conducted, and 17 of 20 practices (85%, p = <.01) increased documentation of health behavior delivery a mean absolute increase of 5.5% after the intervention. Nurse consultation may be an effective strategy to increase health behavior delivery to patients in primary care.