Table 3 Summary of study characteristics of 22 RCTs evaluating interventions targeting health behaviours in university students
| Â | Â | All studies |
|---|---|---|
Country n (%) | United States | 12 (54.5) |
China | 3 (13.6) | |
United Kingdom | 2 (9.1) | |
Australia | 1 (4.5) | |
Other | 4 (18.2) | |
Publication Year n (%) | 2012–2017 | 9 (40.9) |
2018–2023 | 13 (59.1) | |
Number of participants | Total | 11,044 |
Mean | 502 | |
Median | 139 | |
Range | 34-3755 | |
Age n (%) | Mean (SD) | 20.5 (2.2) |
Range of mean age | 18.0-26.8 | |
Number of studies that restricted by age: 16–24 | 5 (22.7) | |
Number of studies that restricted by age: 17–35 | 4 (18.2) | |
Number of studies that restricted by age: 20–42 | 1 (4.5) | |
Number of studies unrestricted by age | 10 (45.5) | |
Number of studies that did not specify age range | 2 (9.1) | |
Sex/ Gender | Mean Female (%) | 65.2 |
Range Female (%) | 12.7–100.0 | |
Participant: Health behaviour related inclusion criteria n (%) | Yes | 17 (77.3) |
No | 5 (22.7) | |
Participant: Student- related inclusion criteria n (%) | Yes | 16 (72.7) |
No | 6 (27.3) | |
Participant: Mental health related inclusion criteria n (%) | Yes | 6 (27.3) |
No | 16 (72.7) | |
Health Behaviour Outcome n(%) | Diet | 9 (40.9) |
Physical Activity | 10 (45.5) | |
Sedentary Behaviour | 0 (0.0) | |
Sleep | 9 (40.9) | |
Alcohol Intake | 7 (31.8) | |
Smoking | 1 (4.5) | |
Drug Use | 3 (13.6) | |
Mental Health Outcome n (%) | Depression | 13 (59.1) |
Anxiety | 9 (40.9) | |
Stress | 7 (31.8) | |
Psychological Wellbeing | 5 (22.7) | |
General Wellbeing | 2 (9.1) | |
PTSD | 1 (4.5) | |
Study Design n (%) | RCT | 17 (77.3) |
Pilot RCT | 5 (22.7) | |
Number of study arms n (%) | Two | 20 (90.9) |
Three | 2 (9.1) | |
Number of intervention arms n (%) | One | 22 (84.6) |
Two | 4 (18.2) | |
Total | 26 | |
Type of control groups n (%) | No Intervention | 9 (40.9) |
Standard/usual care | 6 (27.3) | |
Wait-list control | 5 (22.7) | |
No control group | 2 (9.1) | |
Behavioural focus of intervention: Number of health behaviours of interest targeted per intervention arm n (%) | One | 18 (69.2) |
Two | 5 (19.2) | |
Three | 3 (11.5) | |
Behavioural focus of intervention: Type of behaviour targeted per intervention arm n (%) | Diet | 10 (38.5) |
Physical Activity | 9 (34.6) | |
Sedentary Behaviour | 0 (0.0) | |
Sleep | 10 (38.5) | |
Alcohol Intake | 7 (26.9) | |
Smoking | 0 (0.0) | |
Drug Use | 1 (3.8) | |
Intervention Duration n (%) | Brief | 7 (26.9) |
≤ 5 weeks | 3 (13.6) | |
6 to ≤ 12 weeks | 15 (57.7) | |
Unclear | 1 (4.5) |