Leigh E Szucs
Biographic Data
| ID | 6509037 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Leigh E Szucs |
| GIVEN NAMES | Leigh E |
| FAMILY NAME | Szucs |
| SIGNATURE | SZUCS L E |
| AFFILIATIONS | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2043-4052 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 12 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 12 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Results From the Comprehensive Health Educator Core Knowledge and Skills ( CHECKS ) Professional Development Study
BACKGROUND: This pilot study examined the effects of the Comprehensive Health Educator Core Knowledge and Skills professional development (CHECKS PD) package on health education (HEd) teacher instructional competencies in one US Pacific Northwest school district. METHODS: During the 2021-2022 academic year, the CHECKS PD package was delivered to secondary school HEd teachers (n = 32). Pre/post surveys measured changes in HEd teachers' perceived i…
Evaluation of the Reliability and Validity of the Perceptions of Skills Enhanced Through School Health Education (P SE ‐ SHE ) Measure
BACKGROUND: School health education promotes health knowledge and skills, yet measurement of teens' health skills is limited. We psychometrically assessed the perceptions of skills enhanced through school health education (PSE-SHE) measure. METHODS: Cross-sectional data (n = 471) were collected from teens using Teen and Parent Surveys of Health, conducted through AmeriSpeak Panels. The survey included one 5-item question assessing teens' percepti…
Trends in diversity-related learning among secondary schools in 35 US states, 2014–2018
Objective: School Health Profiles (Profiles) is a national surveillance system operated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A school-based system of surveys, Profiles monitors school health policies and practices in US states and other jurisdictions through questionnaires completed by school principals and lead health education teachers. This study used the Profiles principal survey to identify trends in US schools' implementati…
I wouldn't have felt so alone”
There is much work needed to improve the breadth, quality, and relevance of school-based sexual health education. Sexual health education can improve by strengthening critical media literacy skills of youth; raising staff cultural competency on gender, race, and sexual identity through training and supports; using culturally relevant and inclusive curricula; and partnering with community-based organizations. Transgender and gender diverse youth w…
Using Health Education to Address Student Physical Activity and Nutrition
BACKGROUND: School-based health education can provide students with learning experiences that improve knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) and behaviors regarding physical activity and nutrition. METHODS: We conducted a 2-phase systematic review. Phase 1 was a review of reviews (ie, systematic reviews or meta-analyses) that were published 2010-2018. Phase 2 was a search for individual articles published 2010-2020 addressing topics relevant…
Predictors of Willingness to Participate in Covid ‐19 Screening Testing from a Pilot School Survey in the United States
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 screening testing (ST) can detect asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic cases, allowing for prompt identification of cases and close contacts. This study examined parents' and school staffs' knowledge and attitudes toward to a pilot school-based ST program in a school district in southern Arizona. METHODS: In May 2021, online surveys to parents and school staff were administered to examine attitudes toward ST and impacts of the COV…
Classroom Management and Facilitation Approaches That Promote School Connectedness
BACKGROUND: When children and youth feel connected to their school, family, and others in their community, they are less likely to engage in risky behaviors and experience negative health. Disruptions to school operations during the COVID-19 pandemic have led many teachers and school administrators to prioritize finding ways to strengthen and re-establish a sense of connectedness among students and between students and adults in school. METHODS: …
Trends in Teaching Sexual and Reproductive Health Skills in US Secondary Schools in 35 States, 2008 to 2018
BACKGROUND: Little is known about trends in implementing skills-based instruction in US schools, specifically for sexual and reproductive health (SRH). We examined state-level trends in the percentage of US secondary schools teaching SRH skills in a required course in grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12. METHODS: Representative data from 35 states participating across 6 cycles of School Health Profiles (2008-2018) was analyzed. The prevalence of teaching f…
The CDC 's Division of Adolescent and School Health Approach to Sexual Health Education in Schools
BACKGROUND: School health education, including sexual health education, plays a crucial role in shaping adolescents' protective health behaviors, experiences, and outcomes. Adolescents need functional knowledge and skills to practice, adopt, and maintain healthy behaviors for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and unintended pregnancy. METHODS: The US Centers for Disease Control and Pr…
The Health Education Teacher Instructional Competency Framework
BACKGROUND: Teacher instructional competency, the set of essential knowledge and skills needed to guide teaching practice, is critical to the successful implementation of school health education. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Health Education Teacher Instructional Competency (HETIC) framework, a new conceptualization describing teacher characteristics, essential knowledge, and essential skills, which can influence instructional pr…
School district-provided supports to enhance sexual health education among middle and high school health education teachers
Exploring sexual behaviors and health communication among older women
Older women around the globe are generally depicted as asexual beings, which may impact patient-provider discussions about sex. We examined data on 703 aging women in the United States to compare factors associated with women perceiving sex as important and women discussing sex with their physicians since turning 50. While 65.1% of participants perceived sex to be important, only 23.8% discussed sex with their providers since turning 50. Factors …
Exploring sexual behaviors and health communication among older women
Older women around the globe are generally depicted as asexual beings, which may impact patient-provider discussions about sex. We examined data on 703 aging women in the United States to compare factors associated with women perceiving sex as important and women discussing sex with their physicians since turning 50. While 65.1% of participants perceived sex to be important, only 23.8% discussed sex with their providers since turning 50. Factors …
School district-provided supports to enhance sexual health education among middle and high school health education teachers
The Health Education Teacher Instructional Competency Framework
BACKGROUND: Teacher instructional competency, the set of essential knowledge and skills needed to guide teaching practice, is critical to the successful implementation of school health education. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Health Education Teacher Instructional Competency (HETIC) framework, a new conceptualization describing teacher characteristics, essential knowledge, and essential skills, which can influence instructional pr…
Trends in Teaching Sexual and Reproductive Health Skills in US Secondary Schools in 35 States, 2008 to 2018
BACKGROUND: Little is known about trends in implementing skills-based instruction in US schools, specifically for sexual and reproductive health (SRH). We examined state-level trends in the percentage of US secondary schools teaching SRH skills in a required course in grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12. METHODS: Representative data from 35 states participating across 6 cycles of School Health Profiles (2008-2018) was analyzed. The prevalence of teaching f…
The CDC 's Division of Adolescent and School Health Approach to Sexual Health Education in Schools
BACKGROUND: School health education, including sexual health education, plays a crucial role in shaping adolescents' protective health behaviors, experiences, and outcomes. Adolescents need functional knowledge and skills to practice, adopt, and maintain healthy behaviors for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and unintended pregnancy. METHODS: The US Centers for Disease Control and Pr…
Using Health Education to Address Student Physical Activity and Nutrition
BACKGROUND: School-based health education can provide students with learning experiences that improve knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) and behaviors regarding physical activity and nutrition. METHODS: We conducted a 2-phase systematic review. Phase 1 was a review of reviews (ie, systematic reviews or meta-analyses) that were published 2010-2018. Phase 2 was a search for individual articles published 2010-2020 addressing topics relevant…
Predictors of Willingness to Participate in Covid ‐19 Screening Testing from a Pilot School Survey in the United States
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 screening testing (ST) can detect asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic cases, allowing for prompt identification of cases and close contacts. This study examined parents' and school staffs' knowledge and attitudes toward to a pilot school-based ST program in a school district in southern Arizona. METHODS: In May 2021, online surveys to parents and school staff were administered to examine attitudes toward ST and impacts of the COV…
Classroom Management and Facilitation Approaches That Promote School Connectedness
BACKGROUND: When children and youth feel connected to their school, family, and others in their community, they are less likely to engage in risky behaviors and experience negative health. Disruptions to school operations during the COVID-19 pandemic have led many teachers and school administrators to prioritize finding ways to strengthen and re-establish a sense of connectedness among students and between students and adults in school. METHODS: …
Trends in diversity-related learning among secondary schools in 35 US states, 2014–2018
Objective: School Health Profiles (Profiles) is a national surveillance system operated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A school-based system of surveys, Profiles monitors school health policies and practices in US states and other jurisdictions through questionnaires completed by school principals and lead health education teachers. This study used the Profiles principal survey to identify trends in US schools' implementati…
I wouldn't have felt so alone”
There is much work needed to improve the breadth, quality, and relevance of school-based sexual health education. Sexual health education can improve by strengthening critical media literacy skills of youth; raising staff cultural competency on gender, race, and sexual identity through training and supports; using culturally relevant and inclusive curricula; and partnering with community-based organizations. Transgender and gender diverse youth w…
Evaluation of the Reliability and Validity of the Perceptions of Skills Enhanced Through School Health Education (P SE ‐ SHE ) Measure
BACKGROUND: School health education promotes health knowledge and skills, yet measurement of teens' health skills is limited. We psychometrically assessed the perceptions of skills enhanced through school health education (PSE-SHE) measure. METHODS: Cross-sectional data (n = 471) were collected from teens using Teen and Parent Surveys of Health, conducted through AmeriSpeak Panels. The survey included one 5-item question assessing teens' percepti…
Results From the Comprehensive Health Educator Core Knowledge and Skills ( CHECKS ) Professional Development Study
BACKGROUND: This pilot study examined the effects of the Comprehensive Health Educator Core Knowledge and Skills professional development (CHECKS PD) package on health education (HEd) teacher instructional competencies in one US Pacific Northwest school district. METHODS: During the 2021-2022 academic year, the CHECKS PD package was delivered to secondary school HEd teachers (n = 32). Pre/post surveys measured changes in HEd teachers' perceived i…
Psychology (11 works) · Medicine (10 works) · Medical education (8 works) · School Health and Nursing Education (8 works) · Pedagogy (6 works) · Environmental health (5 works) · Health education (5 works) · Nursing (5 works) · Public health (5 works) · Reproductive health (5 works)