Nosocomial infections are among the major challenges faced by health systems worldwide, with hand hygiene being one of the simplest and most important preventive measures. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in improving hand hygiene behaviour among hospital…

Objective: Health behavior research suggests that perceived social norms impact health decisions. This study aimed to (a) examine reasons for vaccine hesitancy among a sample of college students compared to a clinical sample (b) examine the accuracy of perceptions of others' receptivity and intention to seek out the COVID-19 vaccine, and (c)…

Rates of overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the United States with 42% of Americans being classified as obese (BMI >30) and 73% as overweight according to the CDC. The prevalence of obesity has steadily increased over the years and is not only a chronic disease in itself but is also a risk factor for countless others…

The effectiveness of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation is under debate. Informing smokers who are motivated to quit smoking about e-cigarettes may help them to make an informed decision about their use for smoking cessation, which, however, may also lead to unintended effects such as less quitting. This experimental study assessed the influence of…

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of cooperative learning integrated into self-management support in influencing adolescents' physical activity (PA) and cardiopulmonary fitness (CRF), and to examine retention following an experimental intervention. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Setting: Elementary school setting the…

Hypertension (HTN) management continues to be a concern due to challenges with behavioral risk factors. Patient education to modify unhealthy behaviors appears to be effective in managing HTN. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to determine whether individualized face-to-face education and counseling have a beneficial effect on systolic and…

We aimed to explore, in a sample of systematic reviews (SRs) with meta-analyses of the association between food/diet and health-related outcomes, whether systematic reviewers selectively included study effect estimates in meta-analyses when multiple effect estimates were available. We randomly selected SRs of food/diet and health-related outcomes…

Objective: There is recent evidence that exercise referral schemes (ERSs) are beginning to permit self-referral access. Notwithstanding this, to date it is unknown whether key referral characteristics, such as age, gender and socioeconomic status are associated with a greater likelihood of self-referring to an ERS, and whether self-referral…

Background: Racial/ethnic minorities (REMs) continue to carry the burden of sexual health disparities in the United States, including increased health risks and lower proportions of preventative care. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been useful in developing interventions aimed at reducing these disparities. Specifically,…

Background: This study assesses the long-term effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention on cigarette, passive, and hookah smoking in adolescent boys and girls. Methods: One thousand one hundred and fifty-nine adolescent participants of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) (2001-2004) were followed for 12 years. Participants in the intervention…

Health messages are central to the field of public health in influencing behavioral change, and previous research does not offer a univocal answer on the most effective ordering of health outcomes and (un)healthy behaviors within health communication. An archival study revealed that online mass-media communicators tend to mention behaviors first.…

The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of "efitbuddy," a theory-based smartphone application, on young adults' BMI, physical activity, and motivation across a 4-week intervention. Participants were a convenience sample of 312 (mean age = 19.4 ± 2.3 years) college students. A quasi-experimental design with the control…

Although few studies have established significant associations between cancer risk perception and smoking status, the evidence remains inconclusive. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the association between risk perception for developing cancer and smoking status, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Data from the National Cancer…

Objective: Examine receptivity and motivation to use/quit tobacco among college students after viewing Truth ads. Participants: Random sample of 10,000 college students invited to complete online survey February 2016 (8.5% response rate). Methods: Quasi-experimental. Participants (N = 854) watched four ads and answered survey items for each ad.…

This study aimed to look into the effectiveness of a 6-month health coaching intervention on kidney function in treating patients with type 2 diabetes and early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). It was conducted via a two-armed, randomized-controlled trial involving 92 diabetic patients who were regularly followed under the shared care system at…