title: Health risk behaviour of a medical student population: report on a pilot study.
abstract: 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 students 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 reported 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 significantly 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.
authors.affiliation: Albert Szent-György Medical University, Department of Public Health, Hungary.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pikó
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barabás
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Markos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003069:Coffee; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee