title: A theory-based online health behaviour intervention for new university students (U@Uni:LifeGuide): results from a repeat randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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. 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite 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.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN07407344 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TP, UK. d.s.cameron@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: School of Psychological Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. epton.tracy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Epton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TP, UK. p.norman@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of North Carolina, 323 Davie Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3270, USA. psheeran@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Paschal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheeran
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK. p.r.harris@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TP, UK. t.webb@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK. s.a.julious@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Julious
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK. A.Brennan@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK. c.thomas@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK. a.petroczi@kingston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petroczi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK. d.naughton@kingston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK. i.shah@kingston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Iltaf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004739:England; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012648:Self Care; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult