Chronic diseases and premature death can often be linked to social, environmental, and behavioral factors that are subject to modification, especially during adolescence when many habits--both good and bad--are formed. In order to effectively encourage good health-related behaviors among adolescents, health providers need an integrated understanding of the many factors involved. This volume fills that need by providing the most comprehensive, up-to-date review of the pertinent issues, including in-depth discussions on adolescent sexuality, substance abuse, the future of adolescent health promotion, and the relationship between socioeconomic status and health-related behaviors. The outstanding group of contributors represents a wide variety of disciplines and offers proven techniques and approaches that can help future adults enjoy longer, safer, more productive lives. With an emphasis on practical solutions, Promoting the Health of Adolescents will be of value to health and social scientists, health care providers, educators, and administrators who plan and implement programs for adolescent health.

Designed as an aid to students in Genetics counseling classes and professionals interested in honing their skills, Facilitating the Genetic Counseling Process will guide the reader through the why's and how's of assisting clients with these complex issues. The authors' collective years of both teaching students and counseling clients is reflected in the clear, practical approach of this manual.

Throughout the world, injuries are the leading cause of death during more than half of the average life span. This book documents the nature and magnitude of the problem and provides basic approaches to injury prevention. Injury statistics are given for many developing countries and indigenous populations as well as industrialized nations. Important differences among countries and cultures in types and circumstances of injury are illustrated in a tables and figures that enhance the book's usefulness. The many types of injuries covered in detail include those related to traffic, occupation, disasters, drowning, falls, burns, suicide, and homicide. The cost and health impacts of injury are discussed as well as the role of health services. The authors describe surveillance methods and effective preventive measures that are applicable even in countries with limited resources. This book has been written for public health practitioners and researchers as well as policy makers. Reflecting the author's many years of injury prevention experience in a variety of countries, the book will help readers understand this major health problem, the changes that could reduce it, and the means of influencing crucial public policies.

This is a unique, in-depth discussion of the uses and conduct of cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) as decision-making aids in the health and medical fields. The product of over two years of deiberation by a multi-disciplinary Public Health Service appointed panel that included economists, ethicists, psychometricians, and clinicians, it explores cost-effectiveness in the context of societal decision-making for resource allocation purposes. It proposes that analysts include a "reference-case" analysis in all CEA's designed to inform resource allocation and puts forth the most expicit set of guidelines (together with their rationale) ever outlined of the conduct of CEAs. Important theoretical and practical issues encountered in measuring costs and effectiveness, valuing outcomes, discounting, and dealing with uncertainty are examined in separate chapters. These discussions are complemented by additional chapters on framing and reporting of CEAs that aim to clarify the purpose of the analysis and the effective communication of its findings. Primarily intended for analysts in medicine and public health who wish to improve practice and comparability of CEAs, this book will also be of interest to decision-makers in government, managed care, and industry who wish to consider the roles and limitations of CEA and become familiar with criteria for evaluating these studies.

As screening programs for HIV, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, genetic abnormalities and other risk factors continue to proliferate, difficult questions are continually raised concerning the psychological and behavioral effects on the participants. Although members of the public health community have debated the costs and benefits of screening programs for over three decades, these questions have become especially pertinent with the current emphasis on early disease detection and prevention. While advocates argue that risk notification provides the impetus for individuals to improve their health habits and seek early treatment, skeptics contend that risk screening can have an adverse labeling effect, leading to increased anxiety, work absenteeism, and fatalism.
Now, for the first time, the widely scattered body of research on the effects of risk factor screening is comprehensively reviewed and evaluated in this volume. Here, an internationally recognized group of expert contributors summarizes and discusses current knowledge about the psychosocial consequences of risk factor testing, taking into account individual differences, gender differences, risk status, and intervention strategies. Both the public health and behavioral science viewpoints are explored through up-to-date reviews and stimulating commentary. Bridging the gap between data, theory and public health policy, this volume is essential reading for researchers, professionals and policymakers concerned with the prevention of acute and chronic disease.