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Health risk behaviour of a medical student population

report on a pilot study

Albert Szent-György Medical University, Department of Public Health Szeged Kossuth L. sgt. 35 H-6724, Hungary

Katalin Barabás, MD

Albert Szent-György Medical University, Department of Public Health Szeged Kossuth L. sgt. 35 H-6724, Hungary

Judit Markos, BSc

Albert Szent-György Medical University, Department of Public Health Szeged Kossuth L. sgt. 35 H-6724, Hungary

A pilot study of a cross-sectional nature was carried out to observe and describe the health risk behaviour of a medical student population. The participants (242) were drawn from the students of the University Medical School of Szeged, Hungary. The stu dents were aged 18-31 years (x = 23) and were randomly selected. The response rate was 73%.

The project focussed on 4 harmful habits ranked in the following order of prevalence: excessive coffee drinking (35%), smoking (20.9%), regular alcohol use (6.8%) and illicit drug use (5.1%). The non-parametric (Chi-square) test showed significant differences between the higher and lower physical activity groups in terms of psychological well-being (p<0.05) and health behaviour changes (p<0.005). Harmful habits, however, were report ed more frequently by the higher physical activity group. Significant differences could be detected in terms of women's illicit drug use (p<0.05). Using the Mann-Whitney U-test, it was detected that those who performed more physical activities rated their health signif icantly higher (p<0.001).

This study will be pursued in an expanded study with a larger sample and concentrate especially on the relationship of physical activity behaviour to harmful habits. Follow-up methods are also planned to study the medical student population over time, which should yield some greater insight into these relationships.

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 116, No. 2, 97-100 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/146642409611600207


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