Little research has been published addressing college students’ use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and their attitudes toward CAM. This study measured the prevalence and type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among a sample of college students, assessed college students’ attitudes toward CAM, and investigated the relationship between select social-cognitive constructs and demographic variables as predictors of CAM use among the college population. A modified web based survey instrument originally developed by Nowak and Dorman (2008) was used to sample a cohort of college students attending Ball State University in the fall semester of 2011. Findings show high rates of CAM use and an overall positive attitude toward CAM from this sample. Observational learning, outcome expectancies, gender, and age were identified as significant correlates of CAM use. Having a better understanding about college students’ use of CAM and attitudes toward CAM can help impact the future of healthcare services and health education in United States (U.S.) universities. / Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology

This study investigated the perceptions of college student health center administrators concerning the availability of contraceptive services to college students. The major purposes of the study were (1) to determine the extent to which specific contraceptive services were available to college students from various sources, (2) to determine the extent and effectiveness of any opposition or support from various pressure groups concerning the provision of contraceptive services by student health centers, and (3) to describe the trend, as .perceived by student health center directors, of student access to contraceptive services from 1970 to 1975 and to project the trend to 1980. The findings indicated that pressure activity supporting the provision of contraceptive services by student health centers arose mostly from institutionally related student groups and was considered to be "effective" (i.e., influenced administrative decision making). Pressure which arose from other groups was found to be slight and of little effectiveness.

There is extensive research on the prevalence of college student engagement in risky sexual behaviors and its potentiating factors in college/university settings. However, there remains limited data and study on the use of campus health centers, as well as the patterns of how students seek sexual health care, its relationship to student gender identity, and student engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Despite literature surrounding student health centers and how students seek out medical care, the minimal data in the field regarding campus health center use, if and how students specifically seek out sexual health services, and how this collectively might vary across students with different gender identities, clearly indicate a need for further research on the experiences of students on college campuses in this regard. This dissertation is a secondary data analysis of the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III. This study’s specific aims were to: 1) describe key characteristics of students utilizing student health centers 2) describe if and how frequently college students are regularly seeking sexual health services; and 3) evaluate the relationship between a student’s gender identity and engagement in risky sexual behaviors. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of undergraduate students, analyses illustrated that students utilizing health services were primarily heterosexual female undergraduate students, with differing rates of utilization health services and sexual health services depending on race/ethnicity, year in school, and primary source of health insurance.The results confirmed that there are barriers to college student utilization of sexual health services, specifically for students who are non-heterosexual and transgender. Fewer students are seeking out their student health center and are seeking out care from services from other medical locations or may not be seeking out care at all. These findings highlight the need to ensure that student health centers on college campuses are inclusive of all students, regardless of gender identity. Given the important role that campus health center services play in promoting positive health outcomes and reducing sexual risk among its students, universities should consider efforts to increase student health center utilization, as it is a primary source of college student healthcare.

The initial development of a social services program in a college health setting is presented, with discussion regarding causes, methods, and outcomes. Both empirical and anecdotal data which were influential in the initial formation of the program are reviewed, in the context of an examination of the research literature relating to this area. The actual development and implementation of the program is followed through its first year of existence. Outcomes are presented in the form of qualitative data analysis and case studies. Discussion of the results and recommendations for both future research and improvements to the program are presented.

This study examines two groups -international and domestic students at Portland State University (PSU) - in terms of their motivations to seek university-health services, and their satisfaction with university-health services. The Theory of Motivated Information Management (W. A. Afifi & Weiner, 2004) served as the foundation for this study to examine the preferences of students in terms of the ways they seek information about their health concerns. Differences in international and domestic students' anxiety, efficacy, and satisfaction with physicians were supported. International students reported more anxiety than domestic students. Domestic students reported being more efficacious than international students when talking to a medical provider about a current medical issue. Also, international students reported higher satisfaction with a medical provider at their last university health services visit. First, subjects were asked if they currently have a medical concern for which they might consider consulting a physician at PSU health services. If this scenario applied, subjects were asked to rate a variety of possible, theoretically informed motivations for seeking medical information by consulting a physician, to test the Theory of Motivated Information Management. Second, subjects were asked if they have previously consulted a physician at PSU health services. If this scenario applied, subjects were asked to provide satisfaction ratings of the physician and staff. The results contribute to the understanding of information-seeking processes and support the theory's effectiveness in this situation, explaining where international and domestic students are significantly different in regard to their responses.