scholarly journals Promoting Sustainable Mobility: Impact of an Urban Biking Programme on University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12546
Author(s):  
Milena Adaros-Boye ◽  
Daniel Duclos-Bastías ◽  
Frano Giakoni-Ramírez ◽  
Luis Espinoza-Oteiza ◽  
Carolina Cid-Robles ◽  
...  

The use of bicycles is an active and sustainable mode of transport par excellence. It is a way of increasing people’s physical activity time and should therefore be promoted in educational contexts. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of an urban bicycle programme in a sample of 164 university students (n = 164), 88 women and 76 men, using a standardised instrument with pre and post measures after a theoretical–practical intervention. The sample was divided into an intervention group (n = 122) with 69 women and 53 men; and a control group (n = 42) with 19 women and 23 men. The instrument considered conceptual and attitudinal aspects. The results showed that participants in the intervention group obtained statistically significant improvements (p ≤ 0.05) in the measurement. No significant improvements were observed in the control group (p = 0.35), which means that the urban intervention programme is an effective method for increasing bicycling knowledge and attitudes in the university students who participated in the experience.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Greve ◽  
Rune Vammen Lesner ◽  
Stefan Bastholm Andrade

BACKGROUND In most Western countries, excessive alcohol intake among university students is a cause of concern. The majority of students view drinking as a cornerstone of university life, and many find it difficult to go against the dominant drinking culture. While digital health interventions have been shown to reduce drinking among university students, no intervention has been aimed at changing the overall university drinking culture. This intervention provided the students with tools that helped them make pre-commitment strategies and change their views on the social norms that prevent excessive alcohol intake. OBJECTIVE Our objective is to evaluate the impact of an intervention aimed at reducing the excessive drinking culture among Danish university students. As a secondary outcome, we measured the impact of the intervention on two individual motivational factors for participating in the drinking culture at the university: alcohol consumption as both a personal benefit and a facilitator of socialization. METHODS To evaluate the impact of the intervention, we conducted a cluster randomized controlled experiment among university students at Aarhus University. The students were stratified by gender and self-reported binge drinking. Each student was assigned to either a control or an intervention group. A baseline questionnaire was sent to the participants when school started in September 2019, and a follow-up questionnaire was sent out two months later. The primary outcomes were measured with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (questions 1-3). To examine the mechanisms underlying the effect, we analyzed two motivational factors for participating in the drinking culture at the university: alcohol consumption as both and a personal benefit and a facilitator of socialization. RESULTS In total 961 students signed up, and 509 of them completed the follow-up questionnaire. Compared to the students in the control group, the students in the intervention group had a 15.8% (P<.001) reduction on their monthly level of alcohol intake two months after the intervention. The result is driven by a large effect on male and first-year students. The intervention had no effect on binge drinking, alcohol addiction, or severely harmful alcohol consumption. Our results also showed that while the students in the intervention group found it less difficult to say “no” to drinking there were no difference in the assessment of being part of the student environment between the students in the intervention and control Group. CONCLUSIONS The intervention had a significant and reducing impact on the students’ monthly alcohol intake. That the effect of the intervention was largest among the young and first-year students, who will be the responsible for the drinking culture at the University in the coming years, suggest that small nudging-based interventions can potentially have significant long-term beneficial effects. CLINICALTRIAL American Economic Association’s registry for randomized trials with RCT ID: AEARCTR-0004703. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/4703.


Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 328-334
Author(s):  
Milena Adaros Boye ◽  
Daniel Duclos-Bastías ◽  
Luis Espinoza Oteiza ◽  
Frano Giakoni Ramírez

El uso de la bicicleta como medio de transporte activo es una forma de incrementar el tiempo de actividad física en las personas, por lo que se debe promover en los contextos educativos y laborales. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la efectividad del programa de ciclismo urbano en una muestra 63 sujetos universitarios (n=63), 31 mujeres y 32 hombres, a partir de instrumentos estandarizados con medidas pre y post a una intervención de carácter teórico-práctica. Los instrumentos consideraron aspectos conceptuales, actitudinales, autopercepción de habilidades, y autoevaluación de la condición física. Los resultados evidenciaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p ≤0,05) en todas las mediciones realizadas. En el test 1 (normas de circulación y comportamiento ciclista; en el 2 (BPNES), 0,0057; y en el 3 (IFIS), 0,0113 lo que se traduce en que el programa de intervención urbano es un método efectivo para aumentar los conocimientos, las habilidades y mejorar la condición física en los estudiantes universitarios que participaron en la experiencia. Abstract. The use of the bicycle as an active means of transport is a way of increasing people's time for physical activity and should therefore be promoted in educational and work contexts. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the urban cycling programme in a sample of 63 university subjects (n=63), 31 women and 32 men, using standardised instruments with pre- and post-intervention measures of a theoretical-practical nature. The instruments considered conceptual and attitudinal aspects, self-perception of skills, and self-assessment of physical condition. The results showed statistically significant differences (p ≤0,05) in all the measurements made. In test 1 (traffic rules and cycling behaviour; in test 2 (BPNES), 0.0057; and in test 3 (IFIS), 0.0113 which means that the urban intervention programme is an effective method to increase knowledge, skills and improve physical condition in the university students who participated in the experience.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T2) ◽  
pp. 196-199
Author(s):  
Stang Stang ◽  
Debora Selin ◽  
Suriah Suriah ◽  
Sumarni Marwang ◽  
Hasanuddin Ishak

BACKGROUND: Each pregnancy and childbirth has complication risks. These complications are accompanying pathological incidences that might cause maternal mortality. AIM: This research aims to determine the effect of educational media development in increasing knowledge and attitudes about complications of pregnancy and childbirth in pregnant women. METHODS: This research method passed through several stages as follows: First stage consisted of the development of educational media (leaflets), and second stage consisted of development test with leaflet media using a quasi-experimental research design. The samples were Trimester I to Trimester III pregnant women who visited Sayang Rakyat Hospital Makassar, which consisted of 30 people as intervention group and 30 people as control group. The intervention group was provided leaflets while the control group was provided books on maternal and child health. Data analysis used Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and Mann–Whitney test. RESULTS: The results showed that there are differences in case of knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women regarding complications of pregnancy and childbirth before and after being provided with leaflet intervention with a value of p = 0.000. Likewise, there are differences in the case of knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women regarding pregnancy and childbirth complications between the intervention and control groups with p = 0.041 and 0.001, respectively. CONCLUSION: Educational media on knowledge and attitudes about complications of pregnancy and childbirth has a positive effect in pregnant women at Sayang Rakyat Hospital in Makassar.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matías E. Rodríguez-Rivas ◽  
Adolfo J. Cangas ◽  
Daniela Fuentes-Olavarría

Stigma toward mental disorders is one of today's most pressing global issues. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the barriers to social inclusion faced by individuals with mental disorders. Concurrently, stigma reduction interventions, especially those aimed at university students, have been more difficult to implement given social distancing and campus closures. As a result, alternative delivery for programs contributing to stigma reduction is required, such as online implementation. This paper reports the results of a controlled study focused on an online multi-component program on reducing stigma toward mental illness that included project-based learning, clinical simulations with standardized patients and E-Contact with real patients. A total of 40 undergraduate students from the Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile, participated in the study. They were randomly divided between an intervention and control group. The intervention group participated in the online multi-component program, while the control group participated in an online educational program on cardiovascular health. We assessed the impact of the program by using the validated Spanish-language versions of the Attribution Questionnaire AQ-27 and the Questionnaire on Student Attitudes toward Schizophrenia with both groups, before and after the intervention. In addition, an ad hoc Likert scale ranging from 0 to 5 was used with the intervention group in order to assess the learning strategies implemented. Following the intervention, the participants belonging to the intervention group displayed significantly lower levels of stereotypes, perception of dangerousness, and global score toward people with schizophrenia (p &lt; 0.001). In addition, participants presented lower levels of dangerousness-fear, avoidance, coercion, lack of solidarity, and global score (p &lt; 0.001). The control group displayed no statistically significant differences in the level of stigma before and after the evaluation, for all of the items assessed. Finally, the overall assessment of each of the components of the program was highly positive. In conclusion, the study shows that online programs can contribute to reducing stigma toward mental disorders. The program assessed in this study had a positive impact on all the dimensions of stigma and all of the components of the program itself were positively evaluated by the participants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-69
Author(s):  
Rizki Septia Saraswati ◽  
Apoina Kartini ◽  
Farid Agushybana

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is one of the nutritional problems that still occur in Indonesia which is common in young women. Early nutrition education is needed to prevent these problems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the android-based educational media "Aneminfo" on the knowledge and attitudes of young women regarding iron deficiency anemia. Method: This research was conducted with a quasi-experimental design with a pre-post control group design with a sample of 37 people for each group taken from 2 vocational schools in the city of Semarang. The intervention was carried out using educational media in the form of the “Aneminfo” android application. Changes in knowledge and attitudes between before and after the intervention were measured using a validated questionnaire and tested using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: The results showed a significant increase in knowledge in the intervention group (p = 0.001), and there was a significant increase in attitude in the intervention group (p = 0.011) compared to the control group. The conclusion of this study is the Aneminfo android application can be an alternative media for the government and health workers in providing education about iron deficiency anemia to increase adolescent knowledge and prevent anemia from an early age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-24
Author(s):  
Martina Šperková ◽  
Kateřina Kapounková ◽  
Iva Hrnčiříková ◽  
Zora Svobodová ◽  
Alexandra Malá ◽  
...  

The aim of this research was determined the effect of respiratory intervention for twelve weeks and physical intervention for twelve weeks on selected parameters of heart rate variability in hematooncological patients after treatment. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was measured by DiANS PF8 machine with Medical DiANS PC software. Evaluated were complex indices – Total score and Sympathovagal balance (S-V balance). The intervention programme was composed of three months of respiratory training and then three months of physical training. The experimental group, which absolved this combination of respiratory and physical intervention, was assessed at free time points: firstly, before the respiratory intervention, secondly between the respiratory and the physical intervention and thirdly after the physical intervention. The control group (without intervention) was measured twice between six months. 30 hematooncological patients (16 women and 14 men) were participated in this research, ranging in age 53,74±14,76 years from Internal Hematology and Oncology Clinic of The University Hospital Brno. Results of selected parameters of heart rate variability showed improvements, but without statistically significant effect of intervention programme.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire F Trottier ◽  
Jessica RL Lieffers ◽  
Steven T Johnson ◽  
João F Mota ◽  
Roshni K Gill ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND First-year university students are at increased risk for presenting with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and poor nutritional status. Self-care plays an essential role in optimizing mental health and can prevent/treat stress, anxiety and depression. Web-based self-monitoring of diet and physical activity can lead to similar or improved health outcomes compared to conventional methods. Such tools are also popular among university students. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this 12-week randomized control trial was to assess the impact of a web-based wellness platform on perceived stress among first-year university students. The study’s secondary outcome was to assess the effects of the platform on diet quality and exploratory outcomes were body composition, health related quality of life, mindfulness, mental wellbeing and physical activity. METHODS Ninety-seven first-year undergraduate students were randomized to either the intervention (n=48) or control (n=49) group. The intervention consisted of access to a web-based platform called My Viva Plan® (MVP) which aims to support healthy living on the topics of mindfulness, nutrition, and fitness. The platform is fully automated and is guided by principals of cognitive behavior theory. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to use MVP as frequently as possible over 12 weeks. The control group did not receive access to MVP. Perceived stress was assessed using the Stress Indicators Questionnaire at baseline, week 6 and week 12. Three day food records were used to analyze dietary intake at baseline and week 12. Health related quality of life, mindfulness, mental wellbeing and physical activity questionnaires were completed at baseline, week 6 and week 12 and body composition was assessed at baseline and week 12. Study assessments were completed in-person at baseline and week 12 and electronically at week 6. RESULTS Study recruitment started in August 2018 with batch enrollment for students registered in the fall (September 2018 to December 2018) and winter (January 2019 to April 2019) academic terms at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. Eighty participants completed the 12-week trial (n=35 in the intervention group; n=45 in the control group). All data collection ended in May 2019. CONCLUSIONS This project is the first to explore the impact of an online platform designed to promote health and wellness; it will also shed light into its applicability in first-year university students. If successful, this may become an important health care tool for preventative care in first year university students. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03579264


Konselor ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Merikan Aren ◽  
Aruna Rauna Duamit

This study aims to determined the effects of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) techniques on low self-esteem among UNIMAS Students. More specifically, this study identified the effects of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) techniques in experimental group at pretest and posttest on low self-esteem among UNIMAS students and to identified the effects of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) techniques in control group at pretest and posttest on low self-esteem among UNIMAS students. A case study design is distributed questionnaire called as Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and counselling sessions. Purposive sampling is used to get the most suitable respondents for this study. The findings of this study have revealed there were significant difference at pretest and posttest among respondents in experimental group and control group which were respondents in experimental group increased their level of self-esteem, while there were respondents decreased their level of self-esteem in control group. Counselling sessions utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) techniques have increased the level of self-esteem among UNIMAS students in experimental group who attended the group counselling sessions because they have low level of self-esteem. All the dialogues that been stated by the client in the counselling sessions about their self-esteem can be related to respondents’ personality, cognitive, behavior, emotions and actions. The findings of this study have implications towards University students and counsellor. As for the university students, they gained insight, understanding and knowledge the importance of having good level of self-esteem. For the counsellor, counsellor being helpful, trusted and skillful which after utilized the CBPT techniques, they gained new skills and knowledge on that particular therapy.


Author(s):  
Cristina Corella ◽  
Javier Zaragoza ◽  
José Antonio Julián ◽  
Víctor Hugo Rodríguez-Ontiveros ◽  
Carlos Tomás Medrano ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a physical activity intervention, based on self-determination theory and the transtheoretical model, on university students in the contemplation stage. Participants: 42 students, in the contemplation stage at baseline, were randomly assigned to an experimental group (16 women, 2 men; M age = 19.1 ± 1.15) and a control group (18 women, 2 men; M age = 20.1 ± 5.7). Methods: Physical activity was measured at different moments by accelerometry. Other cognitive variables were measured by self-reported scales. Results: We did not find any significant increases in students’ physical activity in favor of the intervention group. Intragroup analyses indicate that the intervention has an effect on physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), basic psychological needs, and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Conclusions: Results partially demonstrate that applying social cognitive theories seems to be effective in improving physical activity and cognitive variables in university students in the contemplation stage


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