Positive health behaviours Polish and Ukrainian medical students in the context of chronic diseases

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Medical studies and practicing the medical professions involve considerable psychological distress. Health risks associated with distress may be greater in people with health problems, especially in the case of insufficient self-care for health. AIM. Investigating the frequency of positive health behaviours and avoiding risky behaviours among students of medical faculties with and without chronic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS. 796 students of the first years of the faculties of general medicine, dentistry and physiotherapy of Warsaw Medical University and the Ukrainian University of Sumy were examined. An anonymous questionnaire was used, with questions concerning: self-assessment and self-care of health; occurence of chronic diseases; 34 positive health behaviours (nutrition, prevention, mental health, safety, physical activity) and avoiding 5 risky behaviours. RESULTS. Chronic diseases occurred among 23.6% of Polish students and 26.1% of Ukrainians. These students judged their health worse than students without diseases. About 85% of students reported that they take care of their health. Self-care of health among students with and without diseases was similar. High self-assessment of health self-care was not confirmed by the frequency of undertaking the most positive health behaviours; 25% of students smoked, half did not avoid passive smoking, half of Polish and one in five Ukrainian students abused alcohol. The deficiencies of positive health behaviours of students with and without chronic diseases were similar. Among students with chronic diseases, positive health behaviours were more often undertaken by Polish students than Ukrainians. CONCLUSIONS. The lifestyle of the polled students at both universities was far from favourable for health. Students with chronic diseases were in a worse situation, especially at the Ukrainian university. Programs aimed at developing the skills of self-care for health should be implemented during medical studies.

Nursing Intervention to Improve Positive Mental Health and Self-Care Skills in People with Chronic Physical Health Conditions

“…Most of the programs we have found were designed to lower anxiety levels [37], and with good results. In this line, music therapy helps to boost mood and is commonly used in nursing intervention programs with good results [38]. Other studies aimed at the motivation and self-management of the chronic patient have confirmed that attention to and support of these patients are the keys to success [39,40].…”

The Intensity of Physical Activity and the Health-Related Behaviour of University Students of Selected Majors

“…Comparisons of health-related behaviours of students of medical faculties from Poland and Ukraine show that Polish students rated health higher, more often consumed regular meals, vegetables and reduced animal fats, as well as took care of oral hygiene and cared about road safety. In the case of health practices -taking care of rest and adequate number of hours of sleep (6-7 per day), a statistically significant difference was noted in favour of Ukrainian students (Woynarowska-Sołdan, Yezhova, Sytnyk, & Węziak-Białowolska, 2018). According to the authors of the study, these differences were affected by, inter alia, a more difficult socio-economic situation of Ukrainian students.…”

The Problem Field of Professional (Vocational) Education: Innovations and Ways to Improve

“…"the desire of a person to improve the results of their activities". This need makes students concentrate more on their studies and at the same time increases their social activity and positively affects their health [20].…”