%0 Journal Article
%T HealthyhornsTXT: A Text
%A Denise Barrera
%A Elizabeth M. Glowacki
%A Jay M. Bernhardt
%A Jessica Duncan Cance
%A Jessica Hughes Wagner
%A Susan Kirtz
%J Health Promotion Practice
%@ 1552-6372
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1524839917754089
%X Objective: Text-messaging interventions positively affect health behaviors, but their use on college campuses has been limited. Text messaging serves as a relatively affordable way to communicate with large audiences and is one of the preferred modes of communication for young adults. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a campus-wide, health text¨Cmessaging program. Participants: The subscriber pool consisted of approximately 6,000 undergraduate students from a large, southern university. From that pool, 1,095 participants (64% female; 41% White) completed a posttest survey. Method: Text messages covered a range of health topics and information about campus resources. Research was conducted from August through December 2015. Process data were collected throughout the semester; participants¡¯ attitudes were assessed via an online survey at the program¡¯s conclusion. Results: Students demonstrated engagement with the messages throughout the semester as evidenced by replies to text-back keywords and clicks on website links embedded within messages. Messages about sleep, stress management, and hydration were considered most relevant. The majority of participants (61%) reported increased awareness regarding their health. Conclusions: Text-messaging interventions are a feasible strategy to improve college student health
%K text message intervention
%K health messaging
%K mobile health
%K campus health
%K health promotion
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1524839917754089