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School districts are charged with the task of providing America’s youth with the most well-rounded education so that they can grow into the most productive adult citizens. However, school funding cuts and the unending demand to make AYP often push students out of the center of that focus. As a result, matters like school-based Body Mass Index notifications have been moved to the backburner and are often simplified to only what the law requires. Although researchers have sought the best practice to address this cause, it still remains that those not directly involved in the process are designing and implementing regulations. The perceptions of parents and school personnel are not being addressed. As a result, this exploratory, single-case, qualitative study, researched the best school-based body mass index notification practice according to the perspective of eleven total parents and school personnel. These participants were from a school in Southeastern Pennsylvania, whose process is mandated by the state. Based on the findings, it is recommended that schools collaborate with parents to establish the most informative notification letter that meets their needs, rather than simply address the requirements of the state’s mandate. This collaboration must be inviting and easy to enter into and the findings need to be implemented, instead of just gathered and recorded. Prior notification must also be improved and supplemental materials need to be included in the mailing. / Educational Leadership

Computer Assisted Patient Decision Aids (CAPtDA) are important tools to address informed decision making. This parallel mixed methods study described patterns of use of a CAPtDA among men with early stage prostate cancer and explored their perceptions of a CAPtDA and its role in their decision-making process. Men (N=56) with early stage prostate cancer, seeking consultations for surgery and/or radiation therapy at Fox Chase Cancer Center, were recruited by telephone. Those who consented completed a background questionnaire prior to their initial treatment consult. Variables included demographics, decisional factors (such as decision-making style, treatment preference, stage of decision making, Ottawa decisional conflict) and health communication factors (health literacy and computer facility). The CAPtDA had embedded web log tracking capabilities. Men were also asked to participate in an in-depth qualitative interview within 2-4 weeks of their consult visit to explore their perceptions of the software. Twenty five men participated (14 surgical consult patients and 11 radiation consult patients). Specific CAPtDA components were more highly utilized while other components were rarely used. The Men's Stories, with actual men's stories about their diagnosis, treatment decision and challenges, was viewed by 77% of the men and they spent almost half of their time (46%) here. In contrast, the Notebook, which is the values clarification tool, was viewed by only 4 men and they spent about one minute in this section. Men with lower levels of health literacy spent more time in the Men's Stories than men with higher levels of literacy. However, literacy level was not associated with multiple uses and men reported that the content was easy to understand regardless of health literacy level. Those with higher decisional conflict spent more time overall and those who were less confident in their treatment choice were less likely to use it again. Fifteen percent of the sample was minority, but the drop-off rate in participation in the in-depth interviews among minorities and those with limited literacy was dramatic. Opening this "black box" showed different patterns of use and confirmed that not everyone uses it in the same way, or as we intend. / Public Health

This study describes the consequences as well as risk and protective factors associated with adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) and exposure to peer victimization. Peer victimization has been shown to be a risk factor for ATOD use and it may be important to identify factors that attenuate this relationship in order to pursue and develop preventive interventions. High emotional intelligence (EI) has been found to be associated with lower ATOD use, but the research evidence is mixed. High EI may neutralize the effects of exposure to peer victimization and act as a protective factor against increased ATOD use. Results from this cross-sectional study of 376 middle school students (45% male) found that youth who were victimized were more likely to report ATOD use. Youth who were better at identifying and sharing their emotions were less likely to report ATOD use. Conversely, youth who were better at influencing and socializing with others were more likely to report ATOD use. EI was not found to be protective in the presence of peer victimization. Results are discussed in the context of prevention related to increasing EI and reducing ATOD use. / Public Health