| dc.description.abstract | Promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors among college students is a priority in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) strategies to improve the health through engaging in physical activity (PA) and healthy dietary behaviors. Using mobile health (m-Health) applications (apps) as a part of public health intervention offer a significant potential improvement among college students. The objectives of this 12-weeks randomized control trial (RCT) were to improve PA, reduce the sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), and increase water consumption using theory-based m-Health apps intervention among college students. Need assessment phase was conducted to determine the baseline PA, SSBs, water consumption, and other health related concerns between those in an intervention group and a control group. In intervention phase, only the intervention group was exposed to m-Health apps. Evaluation phase was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the intervention program. This intervention followed the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior (COM-B) framework and was guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Stastical analysis included descriptive statistics, dependent t-test, and independent t- test to determine the differences pre-to-post intervention within and between groups. Additionally repeated measure ANOVA were conducted to evaluate the improvement in PA and water intake through intervention period.
A pearson correlation was run to determine the relationship between post-exercise self–efficacy scores and step counts among intervention group. Results show a mean body mass index (BMI) of participants was 22.87 kg/m^2 . Significant (p<0.05) post-intervention differences were increased PA (step counts), increased water consumption, decreased body weight, and improved exercise self-efficacy scores among intervention group. There were no significant intervention effects for SSBs consumption, SSBs self-efficacy scores, BMI, and percent body-fat. Regarding to control group, there was no significant differences pre-to-post intervention among all measures. There was a strong, positive correlation between post-exercise self–efficacy scores and week 12-step count among intervention group. In conclusion, the results from the current study demonstrates that a theory based12-weekRCT m-Health app intervention offer an effective way to significantly improve PA (step counts), body weight, and other dietary healthy lifestyle in college students. In the future, a larger RCT with longer follow-up are required to allow positive physiological changes to occur and to examine the sustainability of such improvement. | en |
