Page 184 - GHES-3-2

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Health awareness survey of university students

completion. To address self-selection bias, an additional particularly effective in treating depression and anxiety
effort was made to approach students during lunchtime, among students. While CBT and mindfulness-based
allowing for interaction with students from diverse interventions were also beneficial, recreational approaches
departments and study courses within the faculty. This (exercise, art, and peer support) demonstrated stronger
approach also served as a prompt to consider healthy effects in reducing symptoms of depression and generalized
nutritional choices. anxiety disorder (Huang et al., 2018).
5. Discussion and recommendations It is noteworthy that the evidence regarding the
population under study remains somewhat unclear, as many
An evaluation of the survey results indicates that while studies included a broad spectrum of student types, such as
students exhibit some awareness of previous interventions, undergraduates, graduate students, and professional students.
this awareness appears to be limited. It remains This diversity introduces variability in age ranges and distinct
unclear whether this limitation stems from inadequate challenges unique to each group, which may impact the
communication efforts, ineffective messaging, or a lack of relevance and comparability of the findings. In addition, many
student engagement. To address this uncertainty, a more studies report results across a wide range of mental health
comprehensive and multi-channel communication strategy issues, making it difficult to conclude about specific conditions.
should be implemented, followed by a subsequent survey Furthermore, the literature reviews included studies with
to assess potential improvements in student awareness. varying degrees of methodological rigor, potentially impacting
Awareness is primarily focused on structurally anchored the consistency and reliability of the findings.
interventions, such as water dispensers and outdoor Based on the present survey’s findings, it appears
play materials, which is logical given their visibility. that solutions and intervention programs tailored to the
Nevertheless, several interventions were unknown to needs profile of students are the most suitable approach.
students, possibly due to insufficient communication or Adopting participatory approaches that involve students
the cessation of working groups after the project phase. in the design and implementation of interventions, rather
These working groups were not integrated into the faculty’s than merely targeting them, could be the most efficient
operations, resulting in limited staff resources to sustain strategy. Such approaches could be carefully designed and
the project post-initiation. A similar observation was made integrated into research courses or project-based learning
by Dietz & Schäfer (2023), who state that “only a very small activities within the study program.
number of German higher education institutions have
embedded health into all aspects of campus culture, across Evaluation methods like realistic evaluation, as
the administration, operations, and academic mandates” developed by Pawson & Tilley (1997), can provide
(Dietz & Schäfer, 2023). valuable insights for program participants. This approach
emphasizes how program outcomes emerge from the
Health promotion at universities is a relevant topic participants’ responses or “reasoning” based on the
among students. This is evident not only from the small resources and opportunities offered by the program.
minority (11.5%) who explicitly stated that they find this Essentially, it is the interaction between the program’s
topic unimportant but also from the numerous suggestions context and the participant’s reasoning that drives the
provided for additional interventions, indicating a vibrant outcomes, making this approach highly adaptive and
interest in the subject. This demonstrates a genuine need participant-centered. This approach could form the basis
for active health promotion in the university environment, of a process starting from the baseline survey that explores
particularly focusing on mental health and stress management.
what students know and aspire to, considering their needs
A systematic literature review conducted in 2021 and interactions with the campus (Pawson & Tilley, 1997).
identified peer learning and peer mentoring as the strategies To strengthen future health promotion efforts in
with the most significant results in addressing anxiety and university settings such as the one under study, a key focus
stress (Pointon-Haas et al., 2024). Another systematic review
identified that interventions such as mindfulness, cognitive could be on leveraging the enthusiasm of students who are
behavioral therapy (CBT), and interventions delivered not only interested in their health but also in contributing
through technology were effective compared to passive to the well-being of their peers. Engaging these students as
controls, with CBT potentially offering enduring effects ambassadors or peer supporters could enhance outreach
over time (Worsley et al., 2022). A review of randomized and foster a culture of collective health responsibility
within the student body.
controlled trials on interventions for common mental
health issues (Huang et al., 2018) found that recreational A subset of students expressed a willingness to actively
interventions such as exercise, art, and peer support were participate in such efforts. The interest shown by students

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 176 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.4290