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 .
Are effects from a brief multiple behavior intervention for college students sustained over time?
OBJECTIVE This study examined whether 3-month outcomes of a brief image-based multiple behavior intervention on health habits and health-related quality of life of college students were sustained at 12-month follow-up without further intervention . METHODS A r and omized control trial was conducted with 303 undergraduates attending a public university in southeastern US . Participants were r and omized to receive either a brief intervention or usual care control , with baseline , 3-month , and 12-month data collected during fall of 2007 . RESULTS A significant omnibus MANOVA interaction effect was found for health-related quality of life , p=0.01 , with univariate interaction effects showing fewer days of poor spiritual health , social health , and restricted recent activity , p's<0.05 , for those receiving the brief intervention . Significant group by time interaction effects were found for driving after drinking , p=0.04 , and moderate exercise , p=0.04 , in favor of the brief intervention . Effect sizes typically increased over time and were small except for moderate size effects for social health-related quality of life . CONCLUSION This study found that 3-month outcomes from a brief image-based multiple behavior intervention for college students were partially sustained at 12-month follow-up
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 .