Effectiveness of interventions targeting health behaviors in university and college staff: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the literature on interventions targeting tertiary education staff within colleges and universities for improvements in health behaviors such as physical activity, dietary intake, and weight loss.


METHODS
One online database, Medline, was searched for literature published between January 1970 and February 2013.


METHODS
All quantitative study designs, including but not limited to randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, nonrandomized experimental trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies, were eligible.


METHODS
Data extraction was performed by one reviewer using a standardized form developed by the researchers. Extraction was checked for accuracy and consistency by a second reviewer.


RESULTS
Data in relation to the above objective were extracted and described in a narrative synthesis.


RESULTS
Seventeen studies were identified that focused on staff within the tertiary education setting. The review yielded overall positive results with 13 reporting significant health-related improvements. Weight loss, physical activity and fitness, and/or nutrition were the focus in more than half (n = 9) of the studies.


CONCLUSIONS
This appears to be the first review to examine health interventions for tertiary education staff. There is scope to enhance cross-disciplinary collaboration in the development and implementation of a "Healthy University" settings-based approach to health promotion in tertiary education workplaces. Universities or colleges could serve as a research platform to evaluate such intervention strategies.
Ronald
R
Plotnikoff
Clare E
CE
Collins
Rebecca
R
Williams
John
J
Germov
Robin
R
Callister
D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014495:Universities; D015431:Weight Loss
D002784:Cholesterol
Colleges; Health Behavior; Health Promotion; Health focus: fitness/physical activity, nutrition, smoking control, stress management, weight control; Healthy University; Manuscript format: literature review; Research purpose: intervention testing/program evaluation; Setting: workplace; Strategy: behavior change; Study design: quantitative; Outcome measure: behavioral; Systematic Review; Target population circumstances: not applicable; Target population: adults; Tertiary Education Institutions; Universities; University Staff