Civic education translates research evidence about topics of social importance for broad public audiences, with increased understanding and meaningful action of the desired outcomes. For the Sake of All is an example of civic education on the social determinants of health and health disparities situated in the local context of St. Louis, Missouri. This article describes the research translation, community engagement, strategic communication, and approach to policy that characterized this project. It presents data highlighting racial disparities in health, educational, and economic outcomes, along with policy and programmatic recommendations. Engagement and implementation strategies are described within the context of the events in Ferguson.

Little scholarship explores how adolescents’ beliefs about school and peers influence the academic outcomes of African American boys and girls. The sample included 612 African American boys (N=307, Mage=16.84) and girls (N=305, Mage=16.79). Latent class analysis (LCA) revealed unique patterns for African American boys and girls. Findings indicate that for African American boys, school attachment was protective, despite having peers who endorsed negative achievement values. Furthermore, socio-economic (SES) status was associated with higher grade point averages (GPA) for African American girls. Overall, these findings underscore the unique role of school, peer, and gendered experiences in lives of African American adolescents.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates remain low, but college student vaccination could offset this trend. This study identifies characteristics that could enhance HPV vaccination among U.S. college students. Data were from the National College Health Assessment II survey (fall 2012, N = 18,919). Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations among demographic characteristics, college region and size, health status, receipt of health services, sexual health information, and HPV vaccination status. Among women, ethnic minorities, students attending schools in the South, those not receiving routine gynecological care in the past 12 months, and those unsure of when they last received gynecological care were less likely to report HPV vaccination. Among men, African Americans, students attending schools in the South and West, and those receiving sexually transmitted infection information were more likely to report vaccination. Data suggest that college health education can help to improve U.S. HPV vaccination rates. Campus health practitioners providing sexual health information and referrals are positioned to assist in this effort.

The purpose of this article is to describe several conceptual areas that warrant attention by scholars and practitioners interested in improving access and opportunity to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning in urban cities. Thinking conceptually about the urban context has been a part of intellectual traditions in the social sciences for decades. Like in other fields of study, for example, economics, sociology, and political science, the treatment of urban communities as unique geospatial organizations in terms of sites of intervention and policy reform has a history in STEM education, but the aligned research and development strategy is best characterized as nascent.

BackgroundStudies have reported that medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) tend to be associated with increased healthcare use, which is demanding of resources and potentially harmful to patients. This association is often used to justify the funding and study of psychological interventions for MUS, yet no systematic review has specifically examined the efficacy of psychological interventions in reducing healthcare use.AimTo conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) for MUS in reducing healthcare use.Design and settingSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodThe search from a previous systematic review was updated and expanded. Twenty-two randomised controlled trials reported healthcare use, of which 18 provided data for meta-analysis. Outcomes were healthcare contacts, healthcare costs, medication, and medical investigations.ResultsSmall reductions in healthcare contacts and medication use were found for CBT compared with active controls, treatment as usual, and waiting list controls, but not for medical investigations or healthcare costs.ConclusionCognitive behavioural interventions show weak benefits in reducing healthcare use in people with MUS. The imprecise use of MUS as a diagnostic label may impact on the effectiveness of interventions, and it is likely that the diversity and complexity of these difficulties may necessitate a more targeted approach.