A theory-based online health behavior intervention for new university students: study protocol

BMC Public Health

Jen Kruger²  Aba-Sah Dadzie⁴  Andrea Petroczi¹  Declan Naughton¹  Steven A Julious²  Petra Meier²  Alan Brennan²  Fabio Ciravegna⁴  Thomas L Webb³  Peter R Harris⁵  Paschal Sheeran³  Paul Norman³  Tracy Epton³ 

[1] School of Life Science, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK;School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK;Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TP, UK;Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK;School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QH, UK

关键词: Smoking;    Exercise;    Fruit and vegetables;    Alcohol;    Implementation intentions;    Theory of planned behavior;    Self-affirmation;    Internet;    Young people;    Randomized controlled trial;   

Others  :  1162572
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-107

 received in 2012-12-20, accepted in 2013-01-30,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Too few young people engage in behaviors that reduce the risk of morbidity and premature mortality, such as eating healthily, being physically active, drinking sensibly and not smoking. The present research developed an online intervention to target these health behaviors during the significant life transition from school to university when health beliefs and behaviors may be more open to change. This paper describes the intervention and the proposed approach to its evaluation.

Methods/design

Potential participants (all undergraduates about to enter the University of Sheffield) will be emailed an online questionnaire two weeks before starting university. On completion of the questionnaire, respondents will be randomly assigned to receive either an online health behavior intervention (U@Uni) or a control condition. The intervention employs three behavior change techniques (self-affirmation, theory-based messages, and implementation intentions) to target four heath behaviors (alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and smoking). Subsequently, all participants will be emailed follow-up questionnaires approximately one and six months after starting university. The questionnaires will assess the four targeted behaviors and associated cognitions (e.g., intentions, self-efficacy) as well as socio-demographic variables, health status, Body Mass Index (BMI), health service use and recreational drug use. A sub-sample of participants will provide a sample of hair to assess changes in biochemical markers of health behavior. A health economic evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the intervention will also be conducted.

Discussion

The findings will provide evidence on the effectiveness of online interventions as well as the potential for intervening during significant life transitions, such as the move from school to university. If successful, the intervention could be employed at other universities to promote healthy behaviors among new undergraduates.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN67684181.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Epton et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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