American College Health Association National College Health Assessment Spring 2006 Reference Group data report (abridged).
OBJECTIVE
Assessing and understanding the health needs and capacities of college students is paramount to creating healthy campus communities. The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) is a survey developed by the ACHA in 1998 to assist institutions of higher education in achieving this goal. The ACHA-NCHA contains approximately 300 questions assessing student health status and health problems, risk and protective behaviors, and impediments to academic performance.


METHODS
The Spring 2006 Reference Group includes ACHA-NCHA data from 94,806 students at 117 institutions of higher education.


METHODS
Officials at participating institutions administered the ACHA-NCHA to all students, to randomly selected students, or to students in randomly selected classrooms. Data were collected between January and May 2006.


RESULTS
Results from the Spring 2006 Reference Group (N = 94,806) are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
Data from the ACHA-NCHA Spring 2006 Reference Group expand the understanding of the health needs and capacities of college students.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data