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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Michele J. Moore, PhD, Department of Public Health, College of Health, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Rd, S, Jacksonville, FL 32224, 904.620.1449, mmoore@unf.edu and Chudley (Chad) Werch, PhD, Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216.

The primary purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a brief re-intervention integrating physical activity and alcohol use prevention messages for adolescents. Students (n=604) from a suburban high school in northeast Florida first participated in a randomized control trial in Fall 2002 and were randomly assigned within grade level (9th and 11th) to receive either a brief consultation and prescription with a mailed reinforcing follow-up flyer, or a minimal intervention control consisting of a wellness brochure and a mailed pamphlet about teen health and fitness. A validated questionnaire was used to collect baseline and post-test data by trained research staff following standardized protocol. Significant positive effects at 3-months and 12-months post-intervention have been reported elsewhere. A total of 346 10th and 12th grade students participated in the re-intervention study in Fall 2003. Students were assigned to the same group as the first year, and either received an iterative consultation or different wellness brochure. Three month post-test revealed no differences between intervention groups using a series of MANCOVA tests. However, secondary analysis examining interactions between past 30-day use of marijuana and/or cigarettes by treatment group indicated significant positive effects on three alcohol consumption measures, marijuana frequency, and five risk and protective factor measures for drug using adolescents who received the re-intervention. Re-intervention of a brief, 12-minute one-on-one consultation integrating alcohol avoidance messages within those promoting fitness and other positive health behaviors holds promise for influencing alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents using marijuana and/or cigarettes prior to intervention.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• provide a rationale for an intervention integrating alcohol use prevention and physical activity messages;
• describe impact of the intervention studied;
• discuss implications of the study for future alcohol prevention programs.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered