William C. Livingood

Impact Study of Tobacco Possession Law Enforcement in Florida

This study of tobacco possession law enforcement was conducted in four selected counties in Florida, the first state to report statistically significant annual declines in youth tobacco use during the 1990s. The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of possession enforcement on youth attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors by comparing results of a survey administered in high-enforcement counties with results from low-enforcement counties and by examining the survey results for relationships of tobacco use to perceptions and awareness of laws and enforcement activity. The survey was administered to a sample of 2,088 randomly selected youth, in conjunction with a qualitative study of law enforcement officials reported elsewhere. Findings indicate that possession enforcement, as a component of comprehensive tobacco control, appears to help reduce youth tobacco use and may be a critical component of the most successful youth tobacco prevention program, documented in the previous decade.

Choosing a Route of Administration for Quadrivalent Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: Intramuscular versus Subcutaneous

A clinical trial was conducted to compare intramuscular (im) with subcutaneous (sc) routes for administration of quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in 141 adults. Safety assessment showed the im route had reduced erythema (P<.01) and reduced headache on days 1 and 2 (P<.05). Serological testing for serum bactericidal antibody titers against capsular groups A and C did not detect significant differences.

Enhancing Systems Objectives for the Year 2000.

In summary, systems objectives would provide an ecological perspective that would help to (1) avoid emphasis on mortality statistics, (2) enable the nation to address a broader range of problems including mental and social dimensions, (3) provide for greater efficiency in meeting the objectives by emphasizing systems that address a broad range of health problems, (4) support continuation of successful programs which are still needed, and (5) facilitate development of programs or responses to health problems with recognition of the great diversity of the physical and social environment where problems exist. Federal public health efficacy could be improved significantly if these systems objectives were incorporated into the nations health objectives for the year 2000.

Backwards and not very humanistic: the Pennsylvania Health Curriculum Progression Chart.

Abstract The Pennsylvania Health Curriculum Progression Chart provides scope and sequence to the health objectives that should be accomplished by a student. The behaviors important for functioning as a healthy adult as well as the behaviors important in meeting the more immediate needs of students were considered in developing the objectives. The Pennsylvania Department of Education Project 81 Outcome Statements were used extensively in the development of the objectives for the 10th to 12th grades. The development of the upper level (10th to 12th grades) objectives followed by the development of the lower level objectives and the focus on actual health behaviors gives the chart unique but controversial characteristics. The chart is also designed for implementation with proposed curriculum regulations in addition to other desirable characteristics.