Health promotion in minority adolescents: a Healthy People 2000 pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to evaluate the effects of a health promotion curriculum on health knowledge, behavior, cardiovascular fitness, and cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
A multi-ethnic, multi-cultural sample (n = 54) of 10th grade males and females participated in a study of cardiovascular health promotion and coronary risk factor reduction. The sample was comprised of Asian-Americans (39%), blacks (33%), Hispanics (11%), whites (2%), and others (15%). Intervention consisted of a 10-week health promotion curriculum of classroom education modules in physical activity, nutrition, smoking cessation, stress management and personal problem solving, and an exercise program of walking and running. A nonintervention control group served as a basis for comparison. Classroom and exercise sessions met on alternate days.


RESULTS
Following intervention, a significant treatment effect (P = .007) was observed in lowered total cholesterol, and significant within group improvements (P < .01) were observed in diet habits, percent body fat, and cardiovascular health knowledge. Comparisons of knowledge and social effects revealed higher cardiovascular health knowledge (P < .05) in subjects of nonsmoking compared to smoking parents, higher self-perception of health (P < .01) in more active vs less active subjects and better dietary habits (P < .07) in children whose parents were college educated compared to parents who did not attend college.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary findings suggest that a health promotion curriculum consisting of health education, behavior modification, and regular aerobic exercise lowers cholesterol, improves health behavior and increases health knowledge.
Fardy
P S
PS
Department of Health and Physical Education, Queens College, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
White
R E
RE
Clark
L T
LT
Amodio
G
G
Hurster
M H
MH
McDermott
K J
KJ
Magel
J R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors