Am J Public Health. 2014 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of
print]
Hale DR(1), Fitzgerald-Yau N, Viner RM.
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. (Am J Public
Health. Published online ahead of print March 13, 2014: e1-e23.
doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.301874).