The effectiveness of a knowledge-based health promotion intervention on multiple health behaviours in adolescent females

Alfailakawi, Noor Khaled (2017) The effectiveness of a knowledge-based health promotion intervention on multiple health behaviours in adolescent females. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Background: Kuwaiti female adolescents have a substantial prevalence of physical inactivity and unhealthy diet leading to epidemic proportions of obesity. Additionally, rates of tobacco smoking and substance abuse are increasing among them. There is a lack of health promoting interventions to deter such behaviours in this population and therefore a knowledge-based intervention in a school setting was investigated.

Methods: The study included 128 adolescent females between the ages of 14 and 18. They were randomly selected and allocated to an intervention group (n= 64) and a control group (n= 64). The intervention consisted of six educational sessions for each of the following: physical activity (PA), healthy nutrition, prevention of tobacco smoking, prevention of substance abuse, bone health, and sun protection. Both groups were assessed before and after the intervention in weight measurements, physical fitness, PA by accelerometry in a subsample, and self-reported behaviours. The self-reported behaviours included PA, dietary behaviours, tobacco smoking, substance abuse, and sun exposure and protection. In addition, the knowledge of each health topic was assessed immediately before the session and a week after. A mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for analysis following an intention-to-treat approach.

Results: Physical fitness including flexibility, abdominal muscles strength, body balance and cardiorespiratory endurance (VO2max) were significantly improved in the intervention group compared to the control group. The intervention group also had significantly increased energy expenditure, light PA, walking time, moderate PA, and moderate-to-vigorous PA, while had decreased sedentary time and elevator use. They also had improved a range of dietary practices by increasing consumption of breakfast, dairy, and water. Furthermore, their health knowledge of each topic was significantly increased. Weight measurements did not show any significant change. Tobacco smoking and substance abuse were scarcely reported which could be due to cultural sensitivity.

Conclusion: A health promotion intervention in school was successful in increasing physical activity and physical fitness, and improving dietary practices in adolescent females in Kuwait. Thus, such interventions are promising and should be invested in and expanded in this population. These interventions should also be supported by socio-environmental changes including families, youth organisations, and health policies.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Health promotion, health behaviours, health knowledge, physical activity, adolescents, adolescent females, Kuwait, intervention, RCT, randomised controlled trial.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Supervisor's Name: MacLean, Dr. John and Miller, Dr. William
• Date of Award: 2017
• Depositing User: Ms. Noor Alfailakawi
• Unique ID: glathesis:2017-8184
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 22 May 2017 13:30
• Last Modified: 08 Jun 2017 15:55
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/8184