Background
College students have a low propensity toward preventive health laying the foundation for poor health behaviors which may lead to chronic disease.
Risky and preventive health behavior screenings in this age group yields significant findings of health risks and poor compliance with preventive actions.
Motivational techniques, such as Brief Action Planning (BAP) are effective in modifying risk factors and changing health behaviors in young adults.
PACE (Partnerships to Advance Collaborative Education) program was piloted at Stony Brook University’s Health and Wellness Campus Center September 2017 to May 2018 and is ongoing. PACE Campus was created and implemented by the Stony Brook School of Nursing and delivered at the campus recreation center to increase college-age students’ access to health promotion, disease prevention, health counseling, psychological services, and awareness of clinical preventive services using a health and wellness screening approach. The PACE Campus Center conducts health and wellness screening provided by adult and family nurse practitioner students and undergraduate nurses and is supervised by nurse practitioner faculty.
Methods
NP students performed a voluntary, health risk and preventive health screening on college-age students at a campus recreation center at a large suburban university.
An evidence-based screening protocol, composed of standardized instruments that measured preventive health behaviors, health risks and point of care testing, was implemented (n=110).
Risk factors, areas of opportunity to improve health behaviors, follow-up recommendations, and appropriate referrals were identified and discussed with students.
A BAP intervention was offered to students and resulted in creation of an action plan based on self-identification of a modifiable health behavior.
All students received a follow-up telephone all to determine compliance with recommendations. BAP follow-up (n=73), risk factor referral compliance (n=86), due to inability to contact all students.
Purpose
To identify risk factors and increase compliance with health recommendations using a motivational technique in college-age students presenting to a campus wellness center.
Results
Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, ANOVA, Nonparametric Binomial Test with test proportion of 42% and 50% were used for analysis.
92% of students made a behavior change consistent with their action plan; 43% mostly completed; 49% partially completed, and 8% did not complete their plan.
BAP student follow-up revealed a high rate of compliance with a significant finding (p = .000).
A high percentage of students complied with referrals and recommendations, making many categories yield significant results (p<0.05).
Depression (PHQ9) 108 4.35 ± 4.46 38.5% 76% .000, Anxiety Screen (GAD- 7) 109 4.0, ± 4.54 30.3% 77.8% .000, Alcohol Screen (AUDIT-C) 68 2.84 ± 1.50 29.3% 50% .306, BMI 107 24.98 ± 4.88 36.7% 74.2% .000, HbA1c 98 5.3 ± .36 12.4% 60% .202, Total Cholesterol 102 174.15 ± 22.73 10.3% 77.8% .033, Unprotected Sex 36 88.9% .000
Conclusion
Significant health risk factors and poor preventive health actions were identified in this population of college-age students.
Results indicated that college students had a high rate of compliance with health referrals and preventive health recommendations following self-identification of a modifiable health behavior of personal interest and development of an action plan following a motivational technique.
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Clinical Sessions