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 .
A community-based health promotion intervention using brief negotiation techniques and a pledge on dietary intake, physical activity levels and weight outcomes: lessons learnt from an exploratory trial.
OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of a brief face-to-face health promotion intervention which included a ' pledge ' using brief negotiation techniques , compared with st and ard advice-giving techniques , delivered in a community setting . DESIGN A parallel group pre-post design using r and omised matched groups . Lifestyle helpers delivered the intervention ( one consultation per participant ) . Diet , physical activity and anthropometric measurements were collected at baseline , 6 months and 12 months . Qualitative data were also collected . SETTING Middlesbrough ( UK ) . SUBJECTS Adults living in low socio-economic areas . RESULTS Recruitment and engagement of lifestyle helpers was difficult , and initial expectations that local health authority staff working in the community and community champions would act as lifestyle helpers were not realised . As a consequence , recruitment of participants was lower than anticipated . One hundred and twenty-eight adults were recruited and the retention rate was 48 % at 12 months . Barriers to participation included poor health and competing commitments . No significant differences in change in diet or physical activity behaviours , or BMI , between the intervention and control groups were observed . The control group had a significantly greater decrease in waist circumference at 12 months compared with the intervention group . CONCLUSIONS This exploratory trial provides important insights in terms of recruiting lifestyle helpers for community-based health promotion interventions , specifically ( i ) the priorities and limitations in terms of time ( regardless of their general enthusiasm ) for staff employed by the local health authority , and ( ii ) the willingness of potential community champions to serve their local community in areas where community identity and ' spirit ' are seen as lacking
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 .