A theory-based online health behavior intervention for new university students: study protocol
Open accessAbstract
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.
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Only one study in the meta-analysis used trial preregistration and publication of protocols (Epton et al., 2014; Epton et al., 2013).
“Only one study in our meta-analysis did so (Epton et al., 2014; Epton et al., 2013).”
From The effect of e-mental health interventions on academic performance in university and college students: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2020) · cites this paper as Epton et al., 2013
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- Authors
- Epton, T., Norman, P., Sheeran, P., Harris, P. R., Webb, T. L., Ciravegna, F., Brennan, A., Meier, P., Julious, S. A., Naughton, D., Petroczi, A., Dadzie, A.-S., & Kruger, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- University of Sussex (GB)
- Kingston University London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Epton, Tracy
- ORCID
- Venue
- BMC Public Health
- Published
- 2013-02-05
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 107-107
- ISSN
- 1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3570293
- OpenAlex
- W2112695186
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 7.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion)
- Research Repository (Kingston University London) (acceptedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Alzheimer's Society
- Alzheimer's Research Trust
- Cancer Research UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- British Heart Foundation
- Diabetes UK
- Stroke Association
- Public Health Agency
- Directorate for Biological Sciences
- Medical Research Council (MR/J000450/1)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- World Cancer Research Fund
- Health and Social Care Research and Development Division
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Keywords
- university students, transition from school to university, behaviour change techniques, self-affirmation, implementation intentions, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, self-efficacy, health beliefs, cost-effectiveness, health economic evaluation, hair biomarkers, young adults
- MeSH terms
- Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Students, Universities, Health Behavior, Internet
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