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Background: Studies have examined relationships between teacher characteristics and student achievement in courses such as math and science. This study is among the first to examine effects of teacher characteristics on student knowledge in a health course. Methods: Student (N = 6143) pretest and posttest data were linked to teacher (N = 67) data. Changes in student knowledge scores from pre- to postcourse were explored using mixed-effects linear models. Teacher characteristics included professional development (PD) attendance, having a dedicated classroom, certification type, educational background, years' experience, and athletic coaching status. Results: Teacher characteristics associated with greater student knowledge gains included: being certified to teach health versus not certified (p < 0.001), having a dedicated classroom versus no classroom (p = 0.017), and for middle school teachers, having attended =3 PD sessions versus =2 (p = 0.023). Less knowledge gain was associated with teachers that coached versus noncoaches (p = 0.040) and having a health degree versus no health degree (p = 0.049). "Post hoc" analyses revealed the negative effect of health degree was only significant among coaches (p = 0.026). Conclusions: Findings suggest opportunities for maximizing student knowledge gains through tailored selection of health teachers and provision of appropriate teaching support.

Sexual health education (SHE) provides students with knowledge and skills to establish healthy relationships, understand sexual development, and prevent risk behaviors; therefore, it is critical to understand how to optimize the delivery and receipt of this education. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews with middle school health education teachers (n = 13) and focus groups with students (n = 41) were conducted to examine factors that influence perceived comfort delivering and receiving SHE in a public-school district. Findings identified key barriers including disruptive behavior, insufficient time, and lack of dedicated classrooms. Some key facilitators to comfort included professional development and establishing ground rules.

Sex education takes place in a wide range of contexts including through the media. Media use among young men who have sex with men is high and gender identity and sexual orientation are topics often integrated into today's media. Little is known about young men who have sex with men's perceptions of how the media frames messages about gender identity and sexual orientation and the implications these messages have on HIV prevention. A greater understanding of young men who have sex with men's perceptions of media framing about gender identity and sexual orientation is needed to ensure prevention efforts reach those most impacted by HIV. Focus groups were conducted with forty-two African American men who have sex with men, aged 18-21, living in the Southeastern USA. Thematic analysis revealed that participants reported using the Internet and television to access gender identity and sexual orientation information. Participants felt that the media's framing of gender identity and sexual orientation only worsened HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Findings illustrate the important role that media can play in educating about gender identity and sexual orientation and the implications this framing has for HIV prevention.

Schools play an integral role in creating safe, supportive environments for students, especially for sexual minority youth (SMY). Using 2016 questionnaire data from seven high schools in a Florida school district, we obtained a sample of 1,364 SMY. Logistic regressions controlling for sex (as applicable), age, grade, race/ethnicity, and school explored differences between SMY and nonsexual minority youth (non-SMY). Sex differences related to school environment perceptions and experiences related to safety, bullying, and hearing homophobic remarks were also explored. SMY were more likely than non-SMY to report several negative school environment perceptions and experiences. Where differences existed within SMY, male SMY were more likely than female SMY to have missed school in the past 30 days (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66, p = 0.03), report avoiding spaces at school due to safety concerns (OR = 1.38, p = 0.02), and report hearing homophobic remarks from teachers (OR = 2.00, p = 0.01). Implications for school nursing are discussed.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth are at disproportionate risk for HIV. Schools play an integral role in educating young people about sexual health in addition to providing sexual health services. This qualitative study examined SGM youths' perception of school sexual health education and services. A total of 42 self-identified African American SGM males participated in focus groups or in an in-depth interview. Qualitative findings revealed that schools are missing the opportunity to educate SGM youth about sexual health. Youth participants noted several barriers to accessing sexual health education and services at schools including limited, targeted health information and school nurses not being knowledgeable of health issues that impact SGM youth. Participants noted that school sexual health services are not adequately marketed to students and sometimes do not include testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Suggestions for future research and implications for school nurses and sexual health services are discussed.

This study examined predictors of having received HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and having been referred by school staff for HIV/STD testing. In 2014, students in seven high schools completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, sexual behavior, referrals for HIV/STD testing, and HIV/STD testing. The analytic sample (n = 11,303) was 50.7% female, 40.7% Hispanic/Latino, 34.7% Black/African American (non-Hispanic), and mean age was 15.86 (SD = 1.22). After controlling for demographic characteristics, significant predictors of reporting having been tested for HIV or STDs were reporting having received a referral for HIV/STD testing (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18; 95% CI = [2.14, 4.70]) and reporting staff following-up on the referral (OR = 3.29; 95% CI = [1.31, 8.23]). Students reporting referrals had significantly higher odds of being male (OR = 2.49; 95% CI = [1.70, 3.65]), "other" or multiracial (non-Hispanic; compared to White, non-Hispanic; OR = 2.72; 95% CI = [1.35, 5.46]), sexual minority (OR = 3.80; 95% CI = [2.57, 5.62]), and sexually experienced (OR = 2.58; 95% CI = [1.76, 3.795]). School staff referrals with follow-up may increase HIV/STD testing among students.

The current study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach to investigate the health information-seeking practices of African American young men who have sex with men (AAYMSM). Forty-two self-identified AAYMSM, aged 18 to 21, residing in a Southeastern U.S. city participated in a qualitative focus group or face-to-face interview to examine their access to health information, current and preferred sources and types of health information, and recommendations for improving the delivery of health information to AAYMSM. Participants reported accessing health information from a complex network of sources, including peers, health care professionals, parents, and the Internet. Most consulted these sources to access information about the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. In addition, participants provided recommendations to improve delivery of health information and identified parents and the Internet as preferred sources of health information. This research highlights the importance of developing health information, specifically for AAYMSM.

School connectedness is an important factor in the lives of youth and are a leverage point for optimizing youth's social, emotional, and physical health. This study presents a meta-analysis examining the relationship between school connectedness and four health domains that are prevalent in adolescence, have implications for adult health, and often co-occur: mental health, sexual health, violence, and high-risk substance use. Ninety articles published between 2009 and 2019 were included in the analysis. The study found that school connectedness had a protective average effect size across all health domains (Hedges' g = −0.345, p -value<0.001). When examined separately, school connectedness had a significant protective relationship with substance use (g = −0.379, p < 0.001), mental health (Hedges' g = −0.358, p < 0.001), violence (Hedges' g = −0.318, p < 0.001), sexual health (Hedges' g = −0.145, p < 0.001), and with co-occurring risks (Hedges' g = −0.331, p < 0.001). These results provide strong evidence that school connectedness has the potential to prevent and mitigate multiple health risks during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive perceptions of parent-child communication can influence behavioral outcomes such as sexual behavior and substance use among young people. Parent-child communication has been effective in modifying adverse health outcomes among heterosexual youth; however, limited research has examined the perceptions of parent-child communication among sexual minority youth, specifically African American young men who have sex with men (AAYMSM). Understanding AAYMSM's and parents' health communication perceptions and practices is critical for improving delivery of health information for this population and communication about sensitive health issues. Using mixed-methods research, the authors conducted focus groups and interviews and administered a cross-sectional survey to 42 AAYMSM and 10 parents of AAYMSM. Descriptive statistics were used to examine survey responses. Thematic analysis revealed that sexual orientation and HIV/AIDS were the most reported topics discussed among both parent and youth participants. Barriers to parent-child communication included fear, embarrassment, lack of time, and the limited availability of AAYMSM-specific health information. Recommended strategies for improving parent-child communication are discussed. Findings will assist in the development of targeted interventions to improve parent-child communication about health among AAYMSM and parents.

Objective: To systematically review literature focused on the health information seeking practices of sexual minority youth (SMY), those youth who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. The aims of this systematic literature review were to determine the health information seeking practices of SMY by: (1) identifying their commonly cited sources of health information; (2) examining barriers associated with accessing health information; and (3) identifying study methodologies used in research with SMY. Method: A systematic review of the health information seeking practices of SMY was conducted. Empirical studies published between 1990 and 2010 on the health information seeking and health communication practices of SMY were found using medical/health and sociology databases. Results: A total of 398 citations were retrieved from four databases using specific search terms. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria of: written in English; peer reviewed; original empirical study; and referenced search terms in title, abstract or keywords. Conclusion: Findings show inaccurate and limited health information targeted specifically toward SMY. Without culturally specific and accurate health information, it will be difficult for health educators and healthcare professionals to address the health concerns faced by this population. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

In this quantitative content analysis, we assess how smoke-free policies are presented in South Carolinian newspapers. In particular, this study examines the extent to which newspapers' coverage of smoke free-policies has represented the interests of their local communities. We compare newspapers in the communities whose economy relies heavily on the tourism and hospitality industry (The Post & Courier in Charleston and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach) and newspapers elsewhere (The State in Columbia and The Greenville News in Greenville), and see whether there are meaningful differences between the newspapers in the way they portray smoke-free policies, particularly in terms of their selective uses of news sources and key arguments. Our findings indicate that South Carolinian newspapers portrayed smoke-free policies largely as a political issue. Many political reasons to either support or oppose the policies were found in almost two out of three articles. We also found that The Post & Courier and The Sun News were more likely than The State and The Greenville News to make arguments against smoke-free policies, and this was particularly so when they were talking about economic impacts of the policies. Public health and media advocacy implications are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]