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 .
Development and evaluation of an HIV-risk reduction program for female college students.
College students are engaging in high rates of behavior related to risk of infection from Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( HIV ) and other sexually transmitted diseases ( STDs ) . A cognitive-behavioral skills training program for heterosexual college females focused on sexual assertiveness skills and the reduction of risk-related behaviors was design ed and evaluated compared with an education-only program . Participants completed pre-intervention , post-intervention , and one-month follow-up assessment s of : ( a ) HIV/STD-related knowledge and beliefs ; ( b ) sexual , alcohol , and drug-related behaviors ; and ( c ) sexual assertiveness role-plays . Skills training participants compared to education-only participants scored higher on sexual assertiveness skills , specific knowledge of HIV infection , and self-efficacy to perform lower risk sexual behaviors and reported a reduction in risk-related behaviors at post-intervention and follow-up assessment s. The effectiveness of behavioral skills in HIV risk-reduction programs for college students is discussed
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 .