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…

Objective: The high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among Nigerian young people has been linked to poor knowledge, attitudes and risk behaviour. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a sexuality education programme (SEP) in improving adolescents' STI/HIV knowledge and attitudes…

Objective: To determine the efficacy of using a narrative-based intervention to reduce HIV stigma among members of the general public in a rural community in Ecuador. Design: This cross-sectional intervention study involved a convenience sample of 133 participants from Cariamanga, Ecuador. We used a post-test only comparison group design. Setting:…

Objective: Teachers face high levels of occupational stress, which can influence their mental well-being and contribute to teacher burnout. Healthy levels of exercise, a good diet and adequate sleep can reduce stress and improve mental well-being outcomes. This study explores the characteristics and effectiveness of lifestyle interventions on…

Objective: The key to controlling tobacco use lies in preventing new smokers. Graphic health warnings and plain packaging are policy interventions to discourage cigarette consumption. This study examined the effect of the warning message frame (gain vs loss) and cigarette packaging (branded vs plain) in non-smokers. Methods: Young adult…

Objective: To evaluate a WeChat-based HIV and AIDS educational intervention to enhance knowledge, improve attitudes and reduce stigma among college students in China. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Public research university in China. Method: A total of 111 college students were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a…

Background: Children's participation in cooking activities at home may have positive effects on diet quality. In Japan, schools are the primary site for food education, which includes cooking. Very few studies have assessed the impact of school-based cooking programmes on children's participation in cooking activities at home. Objective: The…

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of nutrition education programme using the Convenient, Attractive, Normative (CAN) framework to facilitate changes in mindset, attitudes and behaviours towards food among high-school male baseball players. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Setting: Two public high schools in Osaka,…

Objective: To understand tobacco use patterns and the context, implementation and reception of a 2-year school-based behavioural intervention to promote awareness and support for tobacco control policies. Design: Qualitative exploration of participating students', parents' and teachers' perspectives, experiences and observations related to tobacco…

Objective: Numerous studies have examined the effectiveness of graphic health warnings on different population segments, including male and female smokers, in an effort to reduce health disparities in Europe and the USA. However, research exploring the impact of gender-specific tobacco control interventions on Asian smokers is lacking. This study…

Objective: This study investigated the feasibility of delivering health-related short text messages to parents with the goal of reducing obesity risk among their children aged 3--5 years. Design: Quasi-experimental design involving one experimental group of 17 parents. Setting: Rural American Indian reservation. Methods: During the 5-week…

Objective: This study evaluated the longitudinal impact of the Teen Outreach Programme (TOP) on adolescent pregnancy, sexual behaviour, risky sex and sexual intentions in non-metropolitan high schools. Design: Pair-matched, cluster randomised controlled trial. Setting: Non-metropolitan public high schools in Florida, USA. Methods: TOP was…

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of Cool and Clean, Switzerland's largest substance use prevention programme, targeted specifically at 10- to 20-year-olds who belong to a sports club and train as part of a team. Method: Based on a representative sample of young people who belong to a sports club and train as part of a team…

Objective: Age of initiation of drug use is closely associated with the risk of developing drug dependence or abuse. Effective programmes are needed to prevent adolescents from using drugs at an early age. The aim of this intervention programme was to prevent adolescents from using illegal drugs by using drama in education (DIE) to convey a…

Objective: College students are a group at risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While they are generally well informed about STIs, they do not consistently use condoms. An important element in preventing STIs is safer sex communication, especially with a sexual partner. This may be difficult, however, because of a lack of…