Healthy lifestyles among students of sixth year of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, 2011

Abstract

The problems of Public Health are currently non-Communicable Chronic Diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, among others, diseases related lifestyle of people. It is therefore important to promote health at different stages of life as a vital heritage, given that health is the result of care, and ensuring that the society in which one lives offers all members the opportunity to enjoy a good state of health. Health professionals with healthy behaviors are more likely to have best practices and impact on preventive counseling habits of patients. The objective of this study is to describe the behavior of sixth year students of Medicine Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, in relation to their healthy lifestyle during the 2nd half of the year 2011. Methodology used was the questionnaire of practices and beliefs about lifestyles (Arrivillaga, Salazar and Gomez, 2002) which was modified to convenience, according to the study objectives, a sample of 231. Results: 58% (n = 134) were female and 42% (n = 97) (chart. No. 1) of the male gender, a ratio F: M; 1.4:1. The average age of the study population was 24.97 years, the perception of the physical and mental welfare of students under 6 years of medicine is generally positive, having an unfavorable attitude on the dimension of physical activity. Medical students showed a very favorable relative to the dimension of leisure attitude. In regards to healthy eating habits, the attitude of medical students is neutral with slight tendency to very favorable. Conclusions: The information is not sufficient to adopt healthy behaviors the fact of receiving vocational training in areas of health is not sufficient to produce changes in lifestyle, as these are determined by various factors, including beliefs , motivations, risk perception, sense of self and probably other factors as yet unexplored.

Revista Ciencia y Tecnología, N° 15, December 2014: 19-42