Peer-led alcohol intervention for college students: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

This study aims to assess the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of a brief, peer-led alcohol intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in binge-drinking Spanish nursing students. A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with 50 first-year nursing students who were randomly assigned either a 50-min peer-led motivational intervention with individual feedback or a control condition. Primary outcomes for testing the preliminary efficacy were alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. Quantitative and content analyses of open-ended survey questions were performed. Participants in the intervention condition significantly reduced binge-drinking episodes, peak blood alcohol content, and consequences compared to the control group. Principal facilitators were completing the questionnaire during the academic schedule and providing tailored feedback through a graphic report. The main barrier was the unreliability of students' initial commitment. The findings suggest that a brief motivational intervention could be effective for reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences in Spanish college students. Peer counselors and participants reported high satisfaction, indicating that the intervention is feasible. However, a full trial should be conducted taking into account the identified barriers and facilitators.

Peer-led interventions to reduce alcohol consumption in college students: A scoping review.

Risky alcohol consumption among college students is a significant public health issue. In the college setting, students can collaborate in the implementation of peer-led interventions. To date, evidence of peer-led programmes in reducing harmful alcohol consumption in this population is inconclusive. The aim of the current scoping review is to provide a broad overview by systematically examining and mapping the literature on peer-led interventions for preventing risky alcohol consumption by college students. The specific aims were to (1) identify the underlying focus of the interventions and assess their (2) effectiveness and (3) feasibility. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, DART-Europe, RCAAP, Trove and ProQuest. The inclusion criteria were peer-led interventions that exclusively addressed alcohol consumption, college students as the target population and interventional studies (randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of interventions). The methodological quality of the articles was evaluated. From 6654 potential studies, 13 were included. Nine interventions were described within these studies: Voice of Reason programme, Brief Advice sessions, Peer Theatre, Alcohol Education programme, Perceptions of Alcohol Norms intervention, Motivational Intervention, Alcohol Skills Training programme, Lifestyle Management Class and the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students. Only the last showed significant reductions in three of the four outcome measures: quantity and frequency of drinking, estimated peak blood alcohol concentration and alcohol-related consequences. It did not significantly decrease the number of heavy-drinking episodes. Peer interventions may be effective in preventing alcohol use among college students, although the evidence is weak and scarce. Further research is needed to strengthen the findings about peer-led interventions.

Understanding how a smoking cessation intervention changes beliefs, self-efficacy, and intention to quit: a secondary analysis of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Although beliefs, self-efficacy, and intention to quit have been identified as proximal predictors of initiation or quitting in young adults, few studies have studied how these variables change after a smoking cessation intervention. To evaluate the changes in the beliefs, self-efficacy, and intention to avoid smoking and determine if these are potential mediators in quitting, following a smoking cessation intervention, aimed at tobacco-dependent college students. Single-blind, pragmatic randomized controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up. A total of 255 smoker students were recruited from September 2013 to February 2014. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention group (n = 133) or to control group (n = 122). The students in the intervention group received a multicomponent intervention based on the Theory of Triadic Influence (TTI). The strategies of this program consisted of a 50 min motivational interview conducted by a nurse and online self-help material. The follow-up included a reinforcing e-mail and group therapy. The smoking-related self-efficacy, belief, and intention scale was used to assess outcomes. Intention to quit smoking is partial moderator explaining 36.2% of the total effects in smoking cessation incidence. At 6 month follow-up, the differences in the mean scores of self-efficacy and intention related to stopping smoking were significantly higher in the intervention than in the control group. A multicomponent intervention based on the TTI, tailored to college students, positively increased the self-efficacy to avoid smoking and the intention to quit, suggesting intention as potential mediator of quitting.

Health education: A Rogerian concept analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The concept of health education has traditionally focused on enabling people to change unhealthy behaviours and lifestyles. Although, at the theoretical level, there exist definitions of the concept, it remains complex and ambiguous. Furthermore, nurses often confuse the concept with other related terms, such as health information or health promotion. The aim here is to report a concept analysis of health education and elucidate a current definition. DESIGN: Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed and CINAHL for articles written in English or Spanish, published between 1986 and 2017. A manual search was performed, and grey literature was also reviewed. A pre-determined template of study inclusion-related questions assisted the process. REVIEW METHODS: Rodgers' evolutionary method guided the narrative analysis. The attributes of health education, as well as its antecedents, consequences, related terms and contextual bases were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS: Based on the review of 31 studies on health education, the attributes are a learning process, health-oriented, multidimensional, person-centred and partnership. The antecedents are professional awareness of health education, training of health professionals, available resources, individual's willingness to act, and health as an individual's priority in life. The consequences are the increase in knowledge, skills and/or attitudes; change in health-related behaviours, individual capability and empowerment; positive health outcomes; and positive social/economic impact. The related terms are health information, patient education, counselling, health coaching and health promotion. Health education is defined as a continuous, dynamic, complex and planned teaching-learning process throughout the lifespan and in different settings that is implemented through an equitable and negotiated client and health professional 'partnership' to facilitate and empower the person to promote/initiate lifestyle-related behavioural changes that promote positive health status outcomes. Health education takes into account individuals'/groups' internal and external factors that influence their health status through potentially improving their knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs in relation to their health-related needs and behaviour, within a positive health paradigm. CONCLUSIONS: The theoretical definition and conceptual framework provided in this study contribute to and extend the current knowledge base among nurses and other health care providers. The findings elucidate the clinical role of health educators, enabling them to identify the realities of its practice, building a common reference point, and highlighting the main recommendations for its use at the clinical, education, policy and research interface.

Intervention study for smoking cessation in Spanish college students: pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse intervention aimed at helping college student smokers quit smoking. DESIGN: Single-blind, pragmatic randomized controlled trial which compares a multi-component intervention, tailored specifically to college students, with a brief advice session with a 6-month follow-up. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at the University of Navarra, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 255 college student smokers (age range = 18-24 years) were randomized to an intervention group (n = 133) or to a control group (n = 122). INTERVENTION: A multi-component intervention based on the Theory of Triadic Influence of Flay was developed. The intervention consisted of a 50-minute motivational interview conducted by a nurse and online self-help material. The follow-up included a reinforcing e-mail and group therapy. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was self-reported abstinence, with biochemical verification at 6 months. The secondary outcomes consisted of the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day, self-reported attempts to quit smoking and stage of change at 6 months. FINDINGS: At the 6-month follow-up, the smoking cessation incidence was 21.1% in the intervention group compared with 6.6% in the control group (difference = 14.5 confidence interval = 6.1-22.8; relative risk = 3.41, 95% confidence interval = 1.62-7.20). The difference in the mean number of cigarettes at 6 months was significantly different (difference = -2.2, confidence interval = -3.6 to -0.9). CONCLUSIONS: A multi-component intervention tailored to college students and managed by a nurse is effective in increasing smoking cessation among college students.