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.
Department of Health and Physical Education, Queens College, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
P S
PS
Fardy
R E
RE
White
L T
LT
Clark
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G
Amodio
M H
MH
Hurster
K J
KJ
McDermott
J R
JR
Magel
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