Optimizing college health promotion in the digital age: Comparing perceived well-being, and health behaviors, health education needs and preferences between college students enrolled in fully online versus campus-based programss.

Background: There is little published about non-traditional and online college students' health and well-being. College health services must evolve to address the needs of this growing population. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors, perceived well-being, health behaviors, and health education preferences of US college students enrolled in a fully online academic programs compared to a national sample of college students enrolled in campus based programs. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a volunteer sample of 961 college students enrolled in two large, U.S. accredited online universities. Participants completed an online survey that included questions and sub scales from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA, IIb). Responses on survey items from student learning online were compared to an equal sample of college students enrolled in non-online programs, randomly drawn from the NCHA IIb national data set (n = 961). Frequencies on survey items were calculated and mean scores of subset measures for online students were compared against those from the NCHA data set using two tailed z-test scores and independent sample t-tests with alpha at 0.05. Results: Online students reported significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher percentages of chronic illnesses, psychiatric conditions, mobility disabilities, deafness/hearing loss, speech/language disorders,cigarette use, obesity, sedentary activity, and depression than the NCHA national sample. Implication for Practice: Health professionals and leaders who work in higher education must consider the shifting landscape and demographics in higher education in order to develop more tailored, innovative digital health promotion approaches that effectively reach the growing population of online, commuter, and older learners.

An evaluation of a college exercise leader program: using exercise science students as advocates for behavior modification.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a college's exercise leadership program, which was developed to help students, faculty and staff implement behavior changes necessary to begin and maintain a comprehensive exercise program. METHODS: From 2006-2011, a total 66 subjects were recruited and each was assigned to a student exercise leader. Based on comprehensive baseline assessments, each student designed an individualized exercise program for his/her subject. At program completion, the subjects were reassessed. RESULTS: Paired t tests were used to find significant statistical changes (P < .05) among the fitness components. Significant changes as a function of the 6-week exercise program were observed in body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, 1-mile walk time, sit-ups, push-ups, and trunk flexion. CONCLUSIONS: Getting started is the most difficult step, but beginning an exercise program has immediate benefits. Institutions of higher education are addressing issues of wellness as a means for increasing graduation, retention, and productivity rates among their campus constituents. These efforts are part of a collaborative effort initiated by the American College Health Association known as Healthy Campus 2020. The findings from this study have a direct impact on programmatic efforts.

Overweight and obesity in lesbian and bisexual college women.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity among self-identified lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual college age women. METHODS: A secondary analysis of the Spring 2006 National College Health Assessment was conducted with 31,500 female college students (aged 18 to 25 years) to compare body mass index (calculated from self-reported height and weight) among lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual college women. RESULTS: Compared to heterosexuals female college students, lesbians and bisexual women were both significantly more likely to be overweight or obese. Lesbians were also less likely to be underweight compared to heterosexual college women. CONCLUSIONS: Self-identified lesbian and bisexual college women were more likely to be overweight or obese than their heterosexual counterparts. Health care professionals and educators should target these high-risk populations for obesity prevention programs. This study highlights the need for additional research examining the potential risk factors for overweight and obesity among young sexual minority women.

Receipt of routine gynecological examinations among sexually active female college students in the United States.

AIMS: According to leading medical organizations, it is recommended that all sexually active adolescent females, as well as any woman aged >or=18 years, obtain annual gynecological examinations. This study looked at whether female college students who were sexually active, defined as ever having vaginal intercourse and having one or more sex partner(s) in the past year, received a routine gynecological examination in the past year and whether differences existed in receipt of the examination based on students' age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, health insurance status, cigarette smoking (past 30 days), number of sex partners (past year), and gender of sex partners (past year). METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted with data from the spring 2006 National College Health Assessment. A total of 25,389 sexually active female college students (aged 18-24 years) were included in the analyses. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships of variables with receipt of a routine gynecological examination (past year). RESULTS: The majority (75.6%) of sexually active female college students had a routine gynecological examination in the past year. However, students who were younger (aged 18-20 years), Asian or Hispanic, lesbian, only had sex with women (past year), or did not have health insurance were significantly less likely to have had a routine gynecological examination in the past year. CONCLUSIONS: To allow for appropriate intervention, additional research should investigate why different subgroups of sexually active female college students do not obtain routine gynecological examinations. In addition, efforts should be made to link college women who do not have health insurance with no cost or low-cost gynecological services.

STDs among sexually active female college students: does sexual orientation make a difference?

CONTEXT: Research addressing sexual health or STD risk among lesbian and bisexual college women is scarce. METHODS: Data on 29,952 sexually active females aged 18-24 who completed the 2006 National College Health Assessment were examined to assess differences in sexual risk factors and recent STD incidence by sexual orientation. Comparisons were analyzed at the bivariate level and through multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Bisexual students were the most likely to have had an STD during the past year (9%); lesbians were the least likely (2%). However, lesbians were also the least likely to have had a routine gynecologic examination (46%, compared with 64-73% of others). Among students who had had multiple partners in the past year, those who had had partners of both sexes were more likely to have had an STD (16%) than were students who had had only male partners (9%) or only female partners (6%). Students who had binged on alcohol the last time they partied, had had multiple partners or had had a routine gynecologic examination in the past year, had been tested for HIV or had not used condoms at last vaginal intercourse were at increased odds of having had an STD (odds ratios, 1.3-4.0). CONCLUSIONS: Sexual health programs targeting female college students, regardless of sexual orientation, must focus on behavioral risks associated with STDs. In addition, the importance of regular gynecologic exams should be emphasized, especially among lesbians. Further research is needed on risk-taking among female college students who are sexually active with both sexes.