Open AccessA Systematic Review of Effective Interventions for Reducing Multiple Health Risk Behaviors in Adolescence
Author(s) -
Daniel R. Hale,
Natasha Fitzgerald-Yau,
Russell Viner
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2014.301874
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , medicine , randomized controlled trial , environmental health , primary prevention , health risk , suicide prevention , poison control , psychiatry , surgery , disease , pathology
We systematically searched 9 biomedical and social science databases (1980-2012) for primary and secondary interventions that prevented or reduced 2 or more adolescent health risk behaviors (tobacco use, alcohol use, illicit drug use, risky sexual behavior, aggressive acts). We identified 44 randomized controlled trials of universal or selective interventions and were effective for multiple health risk behaviors. Most were school based, conducted in the United States, and effective for multiple forms of substance use. Effects were small, in line with findings for other universal prevention programs. In some studies, effects for more than 1 health risk behavior only emerged at long-term follow-up. Integrated prevention programs are feasible and effective and may be more efficient than discrete prevention strategies.