Muhsin Michael Orsini

Quantifying littered cigarette butts to measure effectiveness of smoking bans to building perimeters.

Abstract Objective: The authors estimated the number of violations of a university policy that prohibited smoking within 25 ft of all campus buildings. Participants: The project was conducted by 13 student researchers from the university and a member of the local public health department. Methods: Students quantified cigarette butts that were littered in a 30-day period inside the prohibited smoking area of 7 campus buildings (large residential hall, small residential hall, administrative building, 2 academic buildings, campus cafeteria, and student union). Results: Investigators found a total of 7,861 cigarette butts (large residential hall: 1,198; small residential hall: 344; administrative building: 107; 2 academic buildings: 1,123 and 806; campus cafeteria: 2,651; and student union: 1,632). Conclusions: Findings suggest that there is low compliance with the universitys smoking policy. The described project may be repeated by students at other universities as a method to advocate for policy change.

Photovoice as Pedagogy for Authentic Learning Empowering Undergraduate Students to Increase Community Awareness About Issues Related to the Impact of Low Income on Health

Students preparing for helping professions who understand the influences of income on health are better equipped to address health challenges in communities and in their future careers. Universities have a responsibility to bolster and provide a safe environment for students to build and practice their 21st-century skills. When implemented as a pedagogical tool, photovoice projects have the potential to provide authentic learning experiences for students to engage in advocacy and civil discourse. Undergraduate students (n = 37) learning about the influence of low income on health engaged in a photovoice assignment, demonstrating their own understanding of the course content while effectively advocating for issues related to the health of low-income community members. Community members attending the exhibit (n = 32) completed surveys designed to capture their reactions to the students’ work. As a result of attending the students’ photovoice exhibit, community members reported increased awareness about issues of concern in the community as well as an affective response to the community concerns documented.

Developing a Web-Based Tool Using Information and Communication Technologies to Expand the Reach and Impact of Photovoice

Information and communication technologies are opening up vast new arenas for conducting the work of health promotion. Technology-based health promotions expand reach, standardize information and its delivery, provide opportunities for tailoring, create engaging interactivity within content delivery, provide for privacy and autonomy, improve portability, and lower delivery costs. This commentary describes the ongoing exploration and development of a web-based tool for enhancing the reach and impact of photovoice as a community change intervention. Features of the tool use information and communication technologies that integrate the use of an online learning management system, tailored messaging, gaming technology, interactive features, and the application of social medias power to increase the capacity of communities to employ comprehensive strategies to improve the health of their communities. It will enable individuals and groups to use photos and captions to assess the physical environment, social norms and behaviors of communities; raise community awareness of the factors contributing to ill-health in their communities, mobilize stakeholders, and inform environmental strategies and policy changes. We believe it will enhance the delivery of educational content about conducting photovoice projects, provide features unavailable without the application of information and communication technologies, and will be substantive advancement over existing photovoice resources.

Collaborative evaluation of a high school prevention curriculum: How methods of collaborative evaluation enhanced a randomized control trial to inform program improvement.

Blending high-quality and rigorous research with pure evaluation practice can often be best accomplished through thoughtful collaboration. The evaluation of a high school drug prevention program (All Stars Senior) is an example of how perceived competing purposes and methodologies can coexist to investigate formative and summative outcome variables that can be used for program improvement. Throughout this project there were many examples of client learning from evaluator and evaluator learning from client. This article presents convincing evidence that collaborative evaluation can improve the design, implementation, and findings of the randomized control trial. Throughout this paper, we discuss many examples of good science, good evaluation, and other practical benefits of practicing collaborative evaluation. Ultimately, the authors created the term pre-formative evaluation to describe the period prior to data collection and before program implementation, when collaborative evaluation can inform program improvement.

Going the Distance: Delivery of High School Drug Prevention via Distance Education.

Abstract The purpose of this project was to develop a technology that can be used in schools where there are insufficient resources to implement a quality drug prevention program. The specific technology—distance education via teleconferencing—allows a highly qualified teacher to deliver programs in such settings with increased quality. A promising high school drug prevention program, All Stars, Sr., was modified to be delivered using the latest technological advances in distance education. Student-level effects are reported across six mediating variables as well as past thirty-day and lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, ecstasy, and other illicit drugs.

Implementing an Alcohol and Other Drug Use Prevention Program Using University–High School Partnerships: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Background: School-based alcohol and other drug use prevention remains an important national strategy. Collaborative partnerships between universities and high schools have the potential to enhance prevention programming; however, there are challenges to sustaining such partnerships. Purpose: The purpose of this commentary is to underscore challenges faced by health education practitioners when implementing and sustaining a university–high school partnership–based alcohol and other drug education program, emphasize strategies for addressing these challenges, and discuss implications for practice based on lessons learned. Three common themes emerged: (a) lack of regular face-to-face meetings, (b) novice implementation personnel, and (c) teacher turnover. Strategies for overcoming these challenges are presented in this commentary and discussed in detail. Translation to Health Education Practice: Program developers ought to consider lessons learned presented in this commentary to enhance and sustain university–high school partnerships in health promotion.

Polysubstance Use Among First-Year NCAA College Student-Athletes

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to investigate polysubstance use among college student-athletes and determine whether use is independent of gender, race, season status, and athletic division. College student-athletes responded to questions related to their past-30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Findings suggest that polysubstance use differs significantly by gender, race, season status, and athletic division. Although a majority of college student-athletes do not engage in polysubstance use, it is reported more frequently for alcohol and tobacco, and alcohol and marijuana. Due to serious consequences associated with polysubstance use, practitioners should consider expanding prevention and treatment efforts to address polysubstance use.

College students’ perception of the flipped classroom: a phenomenographical study

The ‘flipped classroom’ has become popular among educators; however, research on the topic has been relatively sparse, especially in terms of qualitative research. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore student perceptions of the flipped classroom. Undergraduate students who enrolled in a flipped public health course were invited to participate in the study. Thirteen students participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss their thoughts and experiences regarding the flipped classroom. Students viewed the flipped classroom according to out-of-class and in-class activities. Students felt that out-of-class activities were convenient, accommodated different learning styles, and were important for being prepared for class time. In terms of in-class activities, students enjoyed interactive activities (e.g., hands-on activities, class discussions), but some viewed the activities as anxiety provoking. Students also viewed in-class activities as useful for building student-instructor rapport. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.