Comparing health behaviours of internal medicine residents and medical students: An observational study

Abstract

Purpose: During residency, many physicians find it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle; however, there is little objective data available. In this study, residents’ health behaviours and cardiovascular risk status were compared with those of medical students. Methods: Medical residents (n=55, postgraduate years 1 to 4) were compared with medical students (n=62, years 1-4). The main dependent variable was the average number of steps per day (assessed using a pedometer) at work and leisure over three days, during which subjects were not on call or post-call. In addition, all subjects completed a three day food log. Frequency of vigorous exercise was assessed by a single question. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking habits and random blood glucose were measured, and Framingham Risk Score coronary artery disease 10 year probabilities (FRS) were calculated. Results: Residents recorded 8344±3520 steps per day while students recorded 10703±3986 (p < 0.002). 35% of residents and 52% of students averaged more than 10,000 steps per day and senior residents took fewer steps than junior residents. Both groups frequently failed to achieve the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables; on average, 3.5±2.0 servings for residents and 5.4±2.2 for students (p < 0.0001). BMI and FRS were higher among the residents in comparison with the students. Conclusion: Medical residents at our institution appear less active and consume fewer servings of fruits and vegetables than undergraduate medical students. These differences are associated with higher BMI, waist circumference and cardiovascular risk.

Características del consumo de tabaco, dependencia y motivación para el cambio de los especialistas internos residentes de Andalucía (España)

“…Por último, la dependencia a la nicotina parece ser baja, con una alta motivación para el cambio, por lo que este período de la vida constituye una excelente oportunidad para el cese del tabaquismo 3,7 . El consumo de tabaco en los residentes estudiados presenta una prevalencia inferior a la población general de referencia, que se aproxima al 30% de consumo diario 4,5 , y a la encontrada en otros estudios realizados sobre personal sanitario en formación, cuyo consumo oscila desde la quinta parte hasta la mitad de la población de los encuestados 10,11,15,16 , aunque similar a estudios más recientes 12,17 . Se encuentran características similares a otras poblaciones como enfermeros o estudiantes de medicina 8,9,18,19 , aunque el tabaquismo en los estudiantes de medicina en Cataluña parece ser ligeramente superior 20 .…”

“…Parece ser, pues, que los residentes adoptan con los hábitos propios de la etapa adolescente 3 y universitaria un consumo concentrado en los momentos de ocio y asociado al policonsumo 10,13 . Este consumo de tabaco se ha asociado, en algunos estudios, a unos peores hábitos de vida entre los residentes, asociados a mayor riesgo cardiovascular frente a los estudiantes de pregrado 17 .…”

Prevalence and Correlates of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Healthy Beliefs, and Lifestyle Behaviors in First‐Year Graduate Health Sciences Students

“…Other studies specific to college students have found that physical activity and dietary habits are related to motivation and perceived barriers (Downes, ). In general, college and graduate students have been found not to engage in the levels of physical activity and nutritious diets recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (; Downes, ; Garcia‐Williams, Moffitt, & Kaslow, ; Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.; Rye et al, ). However, it is not currently known how healthy lifestyle behaviors and beliefs correlate with depression and anxiety in graduate health sciences students.…”

Activity Monitor Intervention to Promote Physical Activity of Physicians-In-Training: Randomized Controlled Trial

“…[2], [28], [29] One survey of residents found that self-care activities, including exercise, were associated with the absence of burnout. [30] However, residents are less likely to exercise regularly than medical students or attendings, [21], [31] and a survey of radiology residents found that only 37% engaged in recommended guidelines for physical activity. [20] A study of military physicians found that physical fitness declined and weight increased during residency training, [32] and a study of 375 residents from two academic medical centers found that third year medical residents were more likely to be overweight than first year residents [33].…”