Investigation of the lifestyle of medical students based on gender characteristics

Issue 56, 2024

Perizat Azirbayeva, Aigerim Balapasheva, Aigerim Seitzhanova, Aizhan Akhmetova, Zhansulu Nurgaliyeva

Received 19.02.2024, Revised 29.05.2024, Accepted 26.06.2024

https://doi.org/10.54919/physics/56.2024.172rk7

Abstract

Relevance. The issue of a healthy lifestyle of medical university students is relevant throughout the educational process, since the well-being and objective state of health (both mental and physical) has a direct impact on the academic performance and professional development of young specialists in the field of healthcare.

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to investigate the main factors of students’ lifestyle and highlight gender characteristics.

Methodology. A survey of 400 students of West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University was conducted on several key issues related to nutrition, sleep, rest, physical activity, morbidity, and financial needs.

Results. The majority of the 5th year students rate their health as “good” (on average 54.9%), and the 1st year students (58.5%) consider their health to be “satisfactory”. Almost all students were satisfied with their living conditions, but at the same time up to 40% of the survey participants felt a lack of finances for food and clothing, and 38% of the 5th year boys noted a lack of money for entertainment. Most students consider their level of physical activity insufficient, while boys are engaged with more intensity than girls, but also spend less time outdoors. The issue of lack of sleep and proper nutrition is also acute and requires further research.

Conclusions. This study showed that the majority of medical students try to lead a healthy lifestyle, and this health-promoting behaviour differed depending on gender, especially with regard to physical activity and diet. The results of the survey are valuable material for the development of principles for the prevention of acute and chronic diseases, and the introduction of strategies for maintaining the health of students from higher educational institutions.

Keywords: prevention; gender differences; rational nutrition; physical activity; educational institutions

Suggested citation

Azirbayeva P, Balapasheva A, Seitzhanova A, Akhmetova A, Nurgaliyeva Zh. Investigation of the lifestyle of medical students based on gender characteristics. Sci Herald Uzhhorod Univ Ser Phys. 2024;(56):1727-1741. DOI: 10.54919/physics/56.2024.172rk7

Download article

References

  1. Medical Schools Council. The expansion of medical student numbers in the United Kingdom. London: MSC; 2021.
  2. ACMMP. Recommendations 2021-2024, Advisory Council on Medical Manpower Planning. Utrecht: Capaciteits Orgaan; 2019.
  3. Grimstad Commission. Studieplasser I Medisin I Norge: Behov, modeller og muligheter; 2019. https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/9b5b81d102384507b85150f2e0f1b089/11745900_rapport_utredning_fra_grimstadutvalget.pdf.
  4. Nosi C, D’Agostino A, Pratesi CA, Barbarossa C. Evaluating a social marketing campaign on healthy nutrition and lifestyle among primary-school children: A mixed-method research design. Eval Progr Plann. 2021;89:101965.
  5. Bede F, Cumber SN, Nkfusai CN, Venyuy MA, Ijang YP, Wepngong EN, Nguti Kien AT. Dietary habits and nutritional status of medical school students: The case of three state universities in Cameroon. Pan Afric Med J. 2020;35(15):35-55.
  6. Macilwraith P, Bennett D. Burnout and physical activity in medical students. Irish Medi J. 2018;111(3):707.
  7. Kristen L, Ivarsson A, Parker JM, Ziegert K. Future challenges for intervention research in health and lifestyle research – A systematic meta-literature review. Int J Qualit Stud Health Well-being. 2015;10:27326.
  8. Gavala-Gonzalez J, Torres-Perez A, Galvez-Fernandez I, Fernandez-Garcia JC. Lifestyle and self-perceived quality of life in sports students: A case study. Int J Env Res Publ Health. 2022;19(3):1598.
  9. Bandeira ADS, Beets MW, da Silveira PM, Lopes MVV, Barbosa Filho VC, da Costa BGG, Silva KS.. Efforts on changing lifestyle behaviors may not be enough to improve health-related quality of life among adolescents: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Front Psychol. 2021;12:614628.
  10. Kotarska K, Paczynska-Jedrycka M, Sygit K, Kmiec K, Czerw A, Nowak MA. Physical activity and the quality of life of female students of universities in Poland. Int J Env Res Publ Health. 2021;18(10):5194.
  11. Kobbaz TM, Bittencourt LA, Pedrosa BV, Fernandes BDM, Marcelino LD, Freitas BP, Maciel N, Rothfuchs AP, Magalhaes EDS, Saud NS, Vidigal AS, Miura BYG, Cunha Rodrigues JF, Muller UM, de Almeida Silva L, Arnoldi Cobas R, Nishijuka FA, Barbato KBG. The lifestyle of Brazilian medical students: What changed and how it protected their emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Austr J Gener Pract. 2021;50(9):668-672.
  12. McKerrow I, Carney PA, Caretta-Weyer H, Furnari M, Miller Juve A. Trends in medical students’ stress, physical, and emotional health throughout training. Med Educ Onl. 2020;25(1):1709278.
  13. Heidke P, Vandelanotte C, Irwin C, Williams S, Saluja S, Khalesi S. Associations between health-related quality of life and health behaviors in Australian nursing students. Nurs Health Sci. 2021;23(2):477-489.
  14. Almutairi KM, Alonazi WB, Vinluan JM, Almigbal TH, Batais MA, Alodhayani AA, Alsadhan N, Tumala RB, Moussa M, Aboshaiqah AE, Alhoqail RI. 2018. Health promoting lifestyle of university students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional assessment. BMC Publ Health. 2021;18:1093.
  15. Abdullah MFILB, Mansor NS, Mohamad MA, Teoh SH. Quality of life and associated factors among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2021;11(10):e048446.
  16. Chusak C, Tangmongkhonsuk M, Sudjapokinon J, Adisakwattana S. The association between online learning and food consumption and lifestyle behaviors and quality of life in terms of mental health of undergraduate students during COVID-19 restrictions. Nutrients. 2022;14(4):890.
  17. Kopanska M, Ochojska D, Pietluch K, Poltorak S, Banas-Zabczyk A. Assessment of physical activity and quality of life of students in the day of COVID-19 pandemic. Przeglad Epidemiol. 2022;76(1):67-78.
  18. Carpenter C, Byun SE, Turner-McGrievy G, West D. An exploration of domain-specific sedentary behaviors in college students by lifestyle factors and sociodemographics. Int J Env Res Publ Health. 2021;18(18):9930.
  19. Lee KP, Yeung N, Wong C, Yip B, Luk LHF, Wong S. Prevalence of medical students’ burnout and its associated demographics and lifestyle factors in Hong Kong. PLoS One. 2020;15(7):e0235154.
  20. Muller C, El-Ansari K, El Ansari W. Health-promoting behavior and lifestyle characteristics of students as a function of sex and academic level. Int J Env Res Publ Health. 2022;19(12):7539.
  21. Bin Abdulrahman KA, Khalaf AM, Bin Abbas FB, Alanezi OT. The lifestyle of Saudi medical students. Int J Env Res Publ Health. 2021;18(15):7869.
  22. Griban GP, Lyakhova NA, Harlinska AM, Yavorska TY, Kolesnyk NY, Hryshchuk SM, Obodzinska OV. Students’ health level as a result of their lifestyle. Wiadom Lekar. 2021;74(4):874-879.
Make a Submission

Indexing

info@physics.uz.ua