OBJECTIVES: This article provides an introduction to the October 2011 special issue of the Journal of School Health on "Healthier Students Are Better Learners." METHODS: Literature was reviewed and synthesized to identify health problems affecting school-aged youth that are highly prevalent, disproportionately affect urban minority youth, directly and indirectly causally affect academic achievement, and can be feasibly and effectively addressed through school health programs and services. RESULTS: Based on these criteria, 7 educationally relevant health disparities were selected as strategic priorities to help close the achievement gap: (1) vision, (2) asthma, (3) teen pregnancy, (4) aggression and violence, (5) physical activity, (6) breakfast, and (7) inattention and hyperactivity. Research clearly shows that these health problems influence students' motivation and ability to learn. Disparities among urban minority youth are outlined, along with the causal pathways through which each adversely affects academic achievement, including sensory perceptions, cognition, school connectedness, absenteeism, and dropping out. Evidence-based approaches that schools can implement to address these problems are presented. These health problems and the causal pathways they influence have interactive and a synergistic effect, which is why they must be addressed collectively using a coordinated approach. CONCLUSIONS: No matter how well teachers are prepared to teach, no matter what accountability measures are put in place, no matter what governing structures are established for schools, educational progress will be profoundly limited if students are not motivated and able to learn. Particular health problems play a major role in limiting the motivation and ability to learn of urban minority youth. This is why reducing these disparities through a coordinated approach warrants validation as a cohesive school improvement initiative to close the achievement gap. Local, state, and national policies for implementing this recommendation are suggested. Language: en

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00632.x

Healthier students are better learners: a missing link in school reforms to close the achievement gap.

/pdf/healthier-students-are-better-learners-a-missing-link-in-30es13m72r.pdf

Healthier Students Are Better Learners: A Missing Link in School Reforms to Close the Achievement Gap. Equity Matters. Research Review No. 6.

Maternal antioxidant intake in pregnancy and wheezing illnesses in children at 2 y of age

Family history as a predictor of asthma risk

I. The Problem: Childhood Obesity—A Burgeoning Epidemic e490II. Childhood Obesity Research Summit.........e490III. Pathophysiology and Morbidity ofChildhood Obesity e490A. Pathophysiology of Obesity e490B. Medical Consequences of Childhood Obesity. . .e490C. Psychosocial and Societal Consequences ofChildhood Obesity e490IV. Current Healthcare Practices in ChildhoodObesity Prevention and Treatment e492A. Lifestyle Assessment: Diet and Physical Activity . . . .e492B. Clinical Assessment e493C. Psychosocial/Behavioral Assessment .......e493D. Implementing Effective Prevention andTreatment Options: Diet e494E. Implementing Effective Prevention and TreatmentOptions: Exercise and Sedentary Behaviors . . . .e495F. Implementing Effective Prevention TreatmentOptions: Family and Behavioral Approaches . . .e496G. Behavioral Management e497H. Medical and Pharmacological Management. . . .e497I. Surgical Management e498V. Barriers to Optimum Care e498A. Healthcare System Factors e4981. Preparedness of Providers e4982. Models of Coverage and Care e4993. Uninsurance and Underinsurance AmongChildren and Families e5004. Healthcare Providers and Settings asRole Models e500B. The Challenge of Behavior Change ........e5011. Motivational Interviewing for Pediatric Obesity. .e5012. Psychosocial Factors InfluencingBehavior Change e5023. Environmental Factors InfluencingBehavioral Change e503VI. Practice-Based Resources for Preventionand Management e503A. Models From Other Disciplines e5031. Adult Chronic Care Model e5032. Treatment of Heart Failure e5043. Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus .....e5044. Treatment of Childhood Asthma.........e505B. Public Health Measures forChildhood Obesity e5061. Tobacco Control: Implications forChildhood Obesity e506C. Specific Research Issues e5061. Specifying Priorities in the Context of aComplex, Multifactorial Problem ........e5062. Taking a Developmental Approach .......e5073. Engaging Stakeholders e5074. Targeting the Appropriate Outcome .......e508VII. Research Challenges e509A. Research in the Busy Practice e509B. Bring Research Into Practices: Web-BasedAssessment for the PediatricObesity Clinic e509C. Research Agenda: NHLBI and thePediatric Heart Network e510D. Research Agenda: The Children’sOncology Group e510E. Research Agenda: CDC e511F. Research Agenda: Foundations e511VIII. Research and Policy: KnowledgeTranslation e512A. From Practice to Policy to Practice ........e512IX. Concluding Remarks e512Appendix A: Planning Committee e513Appendix B: Presenters e513

http://www.nccor.org/downloads/2009_June_Publications_3.pdf

American Heart Association Childhood Obesity Research Summit Report

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE
Asthma is increasingly being recognized as an important public health concern for children in the United States. Effective management of childhood asthma may require not only improving guideline-based therapeutic interventions, but also addressing social and physical environmental risk factors. The objective of this project was to create a blueprint for improvement of national policy in this area.


DESIGN/METHODS
A nominal group process with nationally recognized experts and leaders (referred to as "the committee") in childhood asthma.


RESULTS
The committee identified 11 policy recommendations (numbered in order below) in 2 broad categories: Improving Health Care Delivery and Financing, and Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure. Recommendations regarding Improving Health Care Delivery and Financing include the development and implementation of quality-of-care standards in 1) primary care, 2) self-management education, and 3) case-management interventions, and the expansion of insurance coverage and benefit design by 4) extending continuous health insurance coverage for all children, 5) developing model insurance benefits packages for essential childhood asthma services, and 6) educating health care purchasers in how to use them. Recommendations for Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure include public funding of asthma services that fall outside the insurance system through establishing 7) public health grants to foster asthma-friendly communities and 8) school-based asthma initiatives. 9) Launching a national asthma public education campaign, 10) developing a national asthma surveillance system, and 11) establishing a national agenda for asthma prevention research, with an emphasis on epidemiologic and behavioral sciences, are also recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementing these recommendations will require coordination of activities at the national, state, and local community level, and within and outside the health care delivery system. With a further commitment of national and local resources, implementation of these recommendations will likely lead to improved child and family asthma outcomes in the United States. childhood asthma, health care policy, health care services.

Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes in the United States

Background/Objective. Asthma is increasingly being recognized as an important public health concern for children in the United States. Effective management of childhood asthma may require not only improving guideline-based therapeutic interventions, but also addressing social and physical environmental risk factors. The objective of this project was to create a blueprint for improvement of national policy in this area. Design/Methods. A nominal group process with nationally recognized experts and leaders (referred to as “the committee”) in childhood asthma. Results. The committee identified 11 policy recommendations (numbered in order below) in 2 broad categories: Improving Health Care Delivery and Financing, and Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure. Recommendations regarding Improving Health Care Delivery and Financing include the development and implementation of quality-of-care standards in 1) primary care, 2) self-management education, and 3) case-management interventions, and the expansion of insurance coverage and benefit design by 4) extending continuous health insurance coverage for all children, 5) developing model insurance benefits packages for essential childhood asthma services, and 6) educating health care purchasers in how to use them. Recommendations for Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure include public funding of asthma services that fall outside the insurance system through establishing 7) public health grants to foster asthma-friendly communities and 8) school-based asthma initiatives. 9) Launching a national asthma public education campaign, 10) developing a national asthma surveillance system, and 11) establishing a national agenda for asthma prevention research, with an emphasis on epidemiologic and behavioral sciences, are also recommended. Conclusions. Implementing these recommendations will require coordination of activities at the national, state, and local community level, and within and outside the health care delivery system. With a further commitment of national and local resources, implementation of these recommendations will likely lead to improved child and family asthma outcomes in the United States. childhood asthma, health care policy, health care services.

/pdf/improving-childhood-asthma-outcomes-in-the-united-states-a-7b09rdpxit.pdf

Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes in the United States: A Blueprint for Policy Action

Abstract Background Most US states and counties prioritized essential workers for early access to COVID‐19 vaccines due to their heightened occupational risk. Racial/ethnic groups most impacted by COVID‐19 are overrepresented among essential workers. This study estimates the effects of prioritizing essential workers on racial/ethnic equity in COVID‐19 vaccination. Methods Survey data were collected from 5500 Los Angeles County adult residents in March and April 2021. Multivariate regression models were used to assess marginal changes in probabilities of vaccination attributable to essential worker status by race/ethnicity. These probabilities were multiplied by population proportions of essential workers in each racial/ethnic group to estimate the effects of prioritizing essential workers on vaccine equity in the population. Results While Latinos (24.9%), Blacks (22.4%), and Asians (21.4%) were more likely to be prioritized essential workers than Whites (14.3%), their marginal gains in vaccine uptake due to their essential worker status did not significantly differ from that of Whites. At the population‐level, prioritizing vaccines for essential workers increased the probabilities of vaccination by small and similar amounts among Asians (5.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3%, 7.5%), Blacks (4.0%; 95% CI: 1.7%, 6.5%), Latinos (3.7%; 95% CI: 2.3%, 5.1%), and Whites (2.9%; 95% CI :1.9%, 3.9%). Conclusions Prioritizing essential workers did not provide proportionally greater early vaccine uptake benefits to racial/ethnic groups that were disproportionately affected by COVID‐19. Early prioritization of essential workers during vaccine campaigns is an important but insufficient strategy for reducing racial/ethnic disparities in early vaccine uptake. Additional strategies addressing access and trust are needed to achieve greater equity in vaccine distribution.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/ajim.23335

Did prioritizing essential workers help to achieve racial/ethnic equity in early COVID‐19 vaccine distribution? The LA pandemic surveillance cohort study

Background Children age 5–11 became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in November 2021 in the United States, but vaccine uptake in this age group remains low. Understanding reasons why parents are hesitant to vaccinate their children may provide critical insights to help protect children from COVID-19 infection. This study examines factors associated with parents' willingness to vaccinate their children. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey focusing on the Los Angeles County adult residents between March and June 2021. Our analytic sample focused on a subgroup of participants who self-report having a child. Predictors included parents' vaccination status and beliefs about COVID-19. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis and calculated the predicted probabilities of parents' willingness to vaccinate their children. Results Parents (n = 401) who worried about catching the virus, had trust in vaccine development and the COVID-19 vaccine approval process, and vaccinated against COVID-19 were more likely to be willing to vaccinate their children. Socio-economic, racial and ethnic differences were no longer statistically significant in the adjusted model. Predicted probabilities of parents who were willing to vaccine their children were 55% among the vaccinated and 36% among the unvaccinated. Conclusions Parents' intent to vaccinate their children is influenced by their perceived severity of the pandemic, trust in the vaccine development process, and their vaccination status, which can be the potential drivers of hesitancy to vaccinate their children.

Will Nicholas

Papers

Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes in the United States

Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes in the United States: A Blueprint for Policy Action

Did prioritizing essential workers help to achieve racial/ethnic equity in early COVID‐19 vaccine distribution? The LA pandemic surveillance cohort study

Factors associated with parents' willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19: The LA pandemic surveillance cohort study