Abstract
BackgroundThis paper reports the results of a repeat trial assessing the effectiveness of an online theory-based intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours in new university students. The original trial found that the intervention reduced the number of smokers at 6-month follow-up compared with the control condition, but had non-significant effects on the other targeted health behaviours. However, the original trial suffered from low levels of engagement, which the repeat trial sought to rectify.MethodsThree weeks before staring university, all incoming undergraduate students at a large university in the UK were sent an email inviting them to participate in the study. After completing a baseline questionnaire, participants were randomly allocated to intervention or control conditions. The intervention consisted of a self-affirmation manipulation, health messages based on the theory of planned behaviour and implementation intention tasks. Participants were followed-up 1 and 6 months after starting university. The primary outcome measures were portions of fruit and vegetables consumed, physical activity levels, units of alcohol consumed and smoking status at 6-month follow-up.ResultsThe study recruited 2,621 students (intervention n = 1346, control n = 1275), of whom 1495 completed at least one follow-up (intervention n = 696, control n = 799). Intention-to-treat analyses indicated that the intervention had a non-significant effect on the primary outcomes, although the effect of the intervention on fruit and vegetable intake was significant in the per-protocol analyses. Secondary analyses revealed that the intervention had significant effects on having smoked at university (self-report) and on a biochemical marker of alcohol use.ConclusionsDespite successfully increasing levels of engagement, the intervention did not have a significant effect on the primary outcome measures. The relatively weak effects of the intervention, found in both the original and repeat trials, may be due to the focus on multiple versus single health behaviours. Future interventions targeting the health behaviour of new university students should therefore focus on single health behaviours.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN07407344.
Highlights
This paper reports the results of a repeat trial assessing the effectiveness of an online theory-based intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours in new university students
Randomization checks There were no significant differences between participants in the intervention and control conditions on any of the baseline measures
Examining attrition after baseline revealed that participants who completed at least one follow-up questionnaire differed from those who did not complete a follow-up questionnaire in nationality, χ2 (1, N = 2621) = 23.18, P < 0.001, ethnicity, χ2 (1, N = 2514) = 11.39, P < 0.001, sex, χ2 (1, N = 2621) = 33.47, P < 0.001, body mass index (BMI), t (2478) = 2.48, P = 0.013, and baseline intentions to consume fruit and vegetables, t (2406) = 2.38, P = 0.017
Summary
This paper reports the results of a repeat trial assessing the effectiveness of an online theory-based intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours in new university students. An earlier trial [9] tested the efficacy of a theory-based online intervention (U@Uni) targeting four health behaviours (fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking) during the transition from school to university. Such life transitions are ideal opportunities to intervene as they represent ‘teachable’ moments; times when people’s social environments and supporting cues for behaviour are in a state of flux and people are more amenable to change [10, 11]. Implementation intention tasks were included to help translate good intentions into healthy behaviour [15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
