Objective: To evaluate the incremental efficacy of a Short Message Service (SMS) combined with a brief video intervention in increasing the effects of a health education intervention for cervical cancer prevention, over and beyond a video-alone intervention, with respect to key determinants of health behaviour change – knowledge, motivation and intention. Methodology: Quasi-experimental study design, comparing three conditions – control group, video intervention group and SMS + video intervention group. Participants were 144 Portuguese female college students allocated into one of the three experimental conditions. The effects of the health education interventions were assessed using a theoretically based multidimensional cancer prevention questionnaire. Data were collected at baseline and post-test. Results: Interventions significantly increased the key predictors of adhesion to cancer preventive behaviours. SMS contributed to increases in the expected directions. Evidence of the superiority in efficacy of the combined intervention (SMS + video) over the video-alone intervention was found for cervical cancer screening. Interventions were not as effective in improving intentions and more complex preventive practices such as sexual behaviour as they were in improving knowledge. Conclusion: Results are encouraging in that cervical cancer prevention knowledge and motivation appear modifiable via a one-session video preventive intervention. If, however, the development of intentions is an important predictor of effective behaviour change, study findings point to the added importance of an SMS-based strategy for improving specific cancer preventive behaviours. Findings reinforce the need for specific and tailored health education interventions according to the various determinants of behaviour change, as well as to the particular target behaviour with respect to cervical cancer prevention.

No abstract

Purpose – Tutoring or mentoring is a form of mutual and informal learning which has distant origins. This is a way of sharing knowledge and experience which has been proved to be extremely useful in educational settings, particularly where there is a peer that plays the role of tutor. Despite its informal characteristic, tutoring should be a structured process, with defined goals and clear roles for both: tutors and tutees, those who benefit from tutoring. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – As this paper aims to explore a pilot project, it was used as a reflexive and practical methodology, in a case study, analyzing the number of participants attending the project as well as the contents of the training course. Findings – In this first project in a Portuguese university, 35 students attended as candidates to tutor, participating in the training course, showing interest in helping their colleagues. Originality/value – This proposal for a tutoring program in a public higher institution aims to train college students to help other colleagues, giving academic support, helping in the adaptation to academic context, promoting autonomy in learning, sharing effective strategies and helping in maintenance of positive interpersonal relationships. These aspects are very important to promote academic success in higher education.

We explore psychological symptomatology of college students in Madeira University, Portugal and examine socio-demographic variables associated with psychological health. We intend to answer the questions: Does gender differ in terms of symptomatology? Which psychological symptomatology is more common? Is there a relation between severity of symptomatology and loneliness? We administered the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and UCLA Loneliness Scale to 300 students, aged 18 to 52. Women reported higher levels of symptomatology. We also noted a positive correlation between symptomatology and loneliness, which could mean that the more severe are the psychological symptoms, lonelier student's feel. We aim to suggest interventions that best suit higher education purpose and students, promote their adjustment and well-being. Keywords: College students, counselling services, psychopathology, loneliness. SINTOMATOLOGÍA PSICOLÓGICA Y LA SOLEDAD EN UNA MUESTRA DE ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS: ¿QUÉ NUEVAS TENDENCIAS SE PUEDEN DESARROLLAR PARA AYUDAR MEJOR A ESTOS ESTUDIANTES? RESUMENSe explora la sintomatología psicológica de los estudiantes universitarios de la Universidad de Madeira, Portugal y se analiza las variables sociodemográficas asociadas a la salud psicológica. Tenemos la intención de responder a las preguntas: ¿el género difiere en cuanto a la sintomatología? ¿Qué sintomatología psicológica es más común? ¿Existe una relación entre la severidad de la sintomatología y la soledad? Se administró el Symptom Checklist-90-Revisado y Escala de Soledad UCLA a 300 estudiantes, de entre 18 y 52. Las mujeres reportaron mayores niveles de sintomatología. También se observó una correlación positiva entre la sintomatología y la soledad, lo que podría significar que el más grave son los síntomas psicológicos, solitaria sensación del estudiante. Nuestro objetivo es proponer intervenciones que mejor se adapten a propósito de la educación superior y a los estudiantes y promover su adaptación y el bienestar. Palabras clave: estudiantes universitarios, servicios de consejería, psicopatología, la soledad.

No abstract