Are effects from a brief multiple behavior intervention for college students sustained over time?
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether 3-month outcomes of a brief image-based multiple behavior intervention on health habits and health-related quality of life of college students were sustained at 12-month follow-up without further intervention.


METHODS
A randomized control trial was conducted with 303 undergraduates attending a public university in southeastern US. Participants were randomized to receive either a brief intervention or usual care control, with baseline, 3-month, and 12-month data collected during fall of 2007.


RESULTS
A significant omnibus MANOVA interaction effect was found for health-related quality of life, p=0.01, with univariate interaction effects showing fewer days of poor spiritual health, social health, and restricted recent activity, p's<0.05, for those receiving the brief intervention. Significant group by time interaction effects were found for driving after drinking, p=0.04, and moderate exercise, p=0.04, in favor of the brief intervention. Effect sizes typically increased over time and were small except for moderate size effects for social health-related quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found that 3-month outcomes from a brief image-based multiple behavior intervention for college students were partially sustained at 12-month follow-up.
Werch
Chudley E Chad
CE
Addictive and Health Behaviors Research Institute, Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32256, USA. cwerch@hhp.ufl.edu
Moore
Michele J
MJ
Bian
Hui
H
DiClemente
Carlo C
CC
Huang
I-Chan
IC
Ames
Steven C
SC
Thombs
Dennis
D
Weiler
Robert M
RM
Pokorny
Steven B
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult