Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .
Cluster randomised trial of the effectiveness of motivational interviewing for universal prevention.
BACKGROUND The prevention of initiation of tobacco , alcohol and drug use is a major societal challenge , for which the existing research literature is generally disappointing . This study aim ed to test the effectiveness of adaptation of Motivational Interviewing ( MI ) for universal prevention purpose s , i.e. to prevent initiation of new substance use among non-users , and to reduce risks among existing users . METHODS Cluster r and omised trial with 416 students aged 16 - 19 years old recruited in 12 London Further Education colleges without regard to substance use status .  Individualised MI was compared with st and ard practice classroom-delivered Drug Awareness intervention , both delivered over the course of one lesson . Prevalence , initiation and cessation rates for the 3 target behaviours of cigarette smoking , alcohol consumption and cannabis use , along with reductions in use and harm indicators after both 3 and 12 months were assessed . RESULTS This adaptation of MI was not demonstrated to be effective in either intention-to-treat or sub-group analyses for any outcome . Unexpected lower levels of cannabis initiation and prevalence were found in the Drug Awareness control condition . CONCLUSIONS This particular adaptation of MI is ineffective as a universal drug prevention intervention and does not merit further study
Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .