Sara S. Plaspohl

An Assessment of America’s Tobacco-Free Colleges and Universities

Abstract Objective: This study examined the extent to which US campuses identified as “100% tobacco-free” by the American Lung Association of Oregon adhered to the American College Health Associations the most recent guidelines and recommendations promoting tobacco-free environments in colleges and universities. Participants: A key informant from 162 of 175 institutions (92.6% response rate) completed an online survey between January 2010 and February 2010. Methods: The variables under study were assessed via a cross-sectional research design. Participants completed a 35-item survey regarding their schools tobacco policies, procedures, and enforcement practices. Results: Although the vast majority of schools had written policies and procedures in place, schools with current policies were the most compliant. Numerous opportunities for improved adherence were identified in the results. Conclusions: Findings from this study may help institutions in the development and implementation of a new tobacco policy, as well as strengthen policies among existing tobacco-free schools.

Impact of School Flu Vaccine Program on Student Absences

Literature provides evidence that school attendance correlates with academic performance and student success. Influenza is a contributing factor to school absences. Primary prevention for influenza includes immunization. School-located influenza vaccine (SLIV) programs provide greater access for students to be immunized. A retrospective review of preexisting data from four academic years was conducted to examine the relationship between SLIV participation and absenteeism among students at eight public elementary schools in Effingham County, Georgia. Results identified differences in average frequency of absences between SLIV and non-SLIV years as well as between SLIV participants and nonparticipants for the 2 SLIV years. Implications for practice include the potential for increased herd immunity among students, which may also extend to other parties within the school community and at home, thus promoting overall wellness and future student success.

Blending Pedagogical Approaches in Public Health Education: The A.D.O.P.T. Model

Background. Developmental groundwork in the health professions begins with specialized training, knowledge acquisition, and critical thinking skills, each reliant on authentic pedagogical approaches. In response to student recommendations, and to provide a novel approach to content delivery, the authors developed a theory-based teaching model focused on activity, discussion, objectives, presentation, and transition (ADOPT). Purpose. The purpose of this article is to discuss the ADOPT model, evaluative data, and potential uses within the public health classroom. Method. To date, the model has been implemented within five content areas: disease continuum, epidemiology, environmental health, human sexuality, and research methods. Each classroom session focused on content-specific material delivered through each of the five model components with delivery order unique to each session. At the conclusion of the semester, students were asked to complete a 15-item Likert-type survey and two open-ended items regarding model efficacy. Evaluation. Assessment results from 119 students are encouraging. Measures of general course efficacy were similar between undergraduate and graduates with mean 10-point Likert-type scores of 8.3 and 8.5, respectively. Both groups reported 8.1 when asked about the benefits of the multimodal approach. Average scores on five items related to model components were 8.1 for undergraduates and 7.9 for graduates. The discussion component was given the highest score, whereas “group work” was given the lowest. Conclusion. The ADOPT model offers a promising approach toward delivery of public health content. Future iterations will enhance group interactions and explore model use within the context of distributive learning.