SETTINGS AS AN IMPORTANT DIMENSION IN HEALTH EDUCATION PROMOTION POLICY, PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH/

Settings-community, worksite, schools, and healthcare sites-constitute an important dimension of health education/health promotion policy an d programs and for research about program needs, feasibility, efficacy , and effectiveness. These settings vary in the extent of coverage of and relationships with their respective constituencies, valued outcome s, and quantity and quality of evidence about the effectiveness of set ting-specific and cross-setting programs. Main sources of evidence for program efficacy and effectiveness are summarized, leading to the con clusion that strides have been made toward building a strong evidentia ry base for health education/health promotion in these settings. Gaps in research exist, especially for diffusion of effective programs, new technologies, the influence of policy, relations between settings, an d approaches to marginal and special subgroups. Recommendations are of fered for cross-setting and within-setting research related to interve ntion.