Campus health education: the plan, the program and the paradigm.

Abstract This paper describes the planning process, the program implementation, and an innovative evaluation paradigm for a campus-wide health education program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The slow, frustrating planning process which eventually culminated in a feasible program followed a needs assessment of resident freshman. Focusing on the topics of mental health, sexuality, contraceptives, and drug abuse, a series of miniteachings provided an opportunity for volunteer graduate and undergraduate health majors to gain experience and practice their professional skills. Aided by a small grant, the staff of Student Health Services, and some of the health education faculty, health students presented evening programs for the campus dormitories. An evaluation strategy, based on qualitative, causal, and explanatory data, also supplemented by quantitative data, included: a seven-year needs assessment survey, utilization rates of health services, instructors observation checklist forms, non...