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 .
Brief multiple behavior interventions in a college student health care clinic.
PURPOSE This study examined the effects of brief image-based interventions , including a multiple behavior health contract , a one-on-one tailored consultation , and a combined consultation plus contract intervention , for impacting multiple health behaviors of students in a university health clinic . METHODS A total of 155 college students attending a major southern university were recruited to participate in a study evaluating a health promotion program titled Project Fitness during the fall 2005 and spring 2006 . Participants were r and omly assigned to one of three treatments as they presented at the clinic : 1 ) a multiple behavior health contract , 2 ) a one-on-one tailored consultation , or 3 ) a combined consultation plus contract intervention . Baseline and 1-month post-intervention data were collected using computer-assisted question naires in a quiet office within the student health clinic . RESULTS Omnibus repeated- measures analyses of variance were significant for drinking driving behaviors , F(2,136 ) = 4.43 , p = .01 , exercise behaviors , F(5,140 ) = 6.12 , p = .00 , nutrition habits , F(3,143 ) = 5.37 , p = .00 , sleep habits , F(2,144 ) = 5.03 , p = .01 , and health quality of life , F(5,140 ) = 3.09 , p = .01 , with improvements on each behavior across time . Analysis of group-by-time interaction effects showed an increase in the use of techniques to manage stress , F(2,144 ) = 5.48 , p = .01 , and the number of health behavior goals set in the last 30 days , F(2,143 ) = 5.35 , p = .01 , but only among adolescents receiving the consultation , or consultation plus contract .  Effect sizes were consistently larger across health behaviors , and medium in size , when both consult and contract were used together . CONCLUSIONS Brief interventions using a positive goal image of fitness , and addressing a number of health habits using a contract and consultation strategy alone , or in combination , have the potential to influence positive changes in multiple health behaviors of college students attending a university primary health care clinic
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 .