Students’ health promoting behaviors: A case study at shiraz university of medical sciences

Abstract

Background: One of the most important factors determining the health of individuals is their health promoting behaviors. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the status of health promoting behaviors of students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 370 students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, during year 2017. Data were collected through a standard health-promoting lifestyle questionnaire that was designed with 10 dimensions (physical health, exercise and wellbeing, weight and nutrition control, disease prevention, psychological health, spiritual health, social health, refrain from drug, accident prevention and environmental health with a total of 70 questions). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, T-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s correlation coefficient by the SPSS software, version 23, at a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: The mean score of total health promoting behaviors was evaluated as 4.70 ± 1.20, which was in a good range. Avoiding medicines and drugs (5.14 ± 1.08) had the highest and exercise and health (4.07 ± 1.50) had the lowest mean score. There was a positive and significant correlation between all components of health promoting behaviors (P < 0.05). There was a significant differences between demographic variables, such as gender (P = 0.04) and university entrance year (P = 0.00), and total health promoting behaviors. Conclusions: The status of health promoting behaviors was estimated to be desirable. Also, holding health education programs focusing on exercise and health in academic settings is recommended. © 2018, Shiraz E-Medical Journal.