Mobile health-based interventions on substance use among undergraduate university students: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Substance use among university students poses a significant public health challenge, increasing the risk of health complications, mortality, and poor academic performance. Early initiation of substance use is linked to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, heightened aggression,...

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Published in:Journal of Substance Use Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 1012 - 1019
Main Authors: Guta, Mistire Teshome, Abamecha, Fira, Hassen Abate, Kalkidan
Format: protocol tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Dec2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2025
      vid: 30
      iid: 6
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        10.1080/14659891.2024.2446931
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        atl: Mobile health-based interventions on substance use among undergraduate university students: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.
      aug:
        au:
          Guta, Mistire Teshome
          Abamecha, Fira
          Hassen Abate, Kalkidan
        affil: Department of Nursing, College of Health Science, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia
      sug:
        subj:
          Telehealth Evaluation
          Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Control
          Students, Undergraduate Psychosocial Factors
          Students, College Psychosocial Factors
          Students, College Psychosocial Factors
          Program Implementation
          Risk Taking Behavior
          Randomized Controlled Trials
          Ethiopia
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
      ab: Introduction: Substance use among university students poses a significant public health challenge, increasing the risk of health complications, mortality, and poor academic performance. Early initiation of substance use is linked to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, heightened aggression, and challenges in employment and family dynamics. To address these issues, universities are implementing targeted interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of substance use. Objective: This study protocol aims to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based mobile health interventions to reduce substance use among undergraduate students at Jimma University, Ethiopia. Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, 140 students who use substances will be recruited via respondent-driven sampling. Participants will be assigned to an intervention group (70 students from the Institute of Technology) or a control group (70 students from the Agaro Campus). The intervention group will receive three-month mobile health text messages, while the control group receives no intervention. Results: Data collection will assess the intervention's acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility using validated measures, alongside descriptive and inferential statistics and thematic analysis. Conclusions: The findings will provide valuable insights into the intervention's impact and guide substance use prevention strategies at both regional and national levels, fostering healthier university environments.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        protocol
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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