Investigation Into Lifestyle And Health Status Of Female Nursing Students In A College In Shenyang

PrefaceLifestyle is a way of life based on interacting living conditions and personal behaviors. It depends on social factors and personal characteristics. The disease caused by poor lifestyle is called "lifestyle disease". Etiologies of some major diseases endangering health of human being, such as cancer, cardio vascular and cerebra vascular diseases, and diabetes, remain immensely complex currently. However, poor lifestyle is one of epidemic factors of these diseases. Therefore, adopting healthy lifestyle is an important prerequisite to prevent many modern diseases.Behavior shaped through of adolescence is essential important for the present and future health. College time is critical to establish individual. Many students develop a variety of unhealthy habits in this period. There will be higher requirements in both physical and mental health to nursing students in their future work. So it is very important to ensure students health by understanding their lifestyles in university and investigating negative factors affecting their health.Although there are many researches about university student lifestyle, none of them has focused on nursing students. This research analyzed student's diet habit, sleep state, extracurricular activities, and health condition by conducting a lifestyle survey and the physical exam among second-year female nursing students. The research could provide a theoretical basis for promoting health and developing good lifestyle for nursing students.Object and Method1,Research object 470 junior college students and 118 undergraduate students in nursing school of Shenyang Medical College were chosen in 2009.2,Research content and methodThe questionnaire was self-designed by referring to many literatures. The questionnaire included general information, the monthly consumption, diet, snacks, time table, extracurricular activity, and health status etc. Special trained staff were assigned to guide students filling the questionnaire, and check the result as well. Anthropometric measurement data including heart rate, blood pressure, height, and weight was obtained following.Results500 yuan was the median cost per capita monthly consumption. The cost of food was the largest part in consumption with a median cost of 300 yuan.93% of students ate breakfast regularly. However, the structure of three meals was irrational. Nearly 80% of students took cereals each meal,45% of the students selected vegetables each meal, followed by eggs and beans.18% of the students drank milk often. The percentage of students who had fish and western-style fast food more than once a week was 36% and 13%.There was statistical significance (P<0.01) for students from urban held higher percentage than students from rural.44% of students ate livers more than once a week. The snack consumption rate of students from urban was 47% compared to students from rural, who had a rate of 33%. Students'most favorite snacks were fruits, ice cream and the barbecue, and most desired beverages were water, fruit and vegetable juice and carbonate beverages. The snack consumption rate of students from urban was higher than that of students from rural, the difference was statistical significance (P<0.01). The average sleep time of students was (7:38±0:43) hours. Daily study time was longer on the other hand. There was no statistical significance difference among sleep time, sleep quality and learning time groups (P>0.05). Leisure activities that students most like were chatting, shopping and surfing internet.28% of students participated physical exercise less than once a week.82% of students who participated in exercise spent exercise time≤1 hour.30.6% of students surfed the internet regularly, 6.4% consumes>4 hours on the internet each time. The main purposes of the using the internet were chat, searching information, and downloading files. High proportion of detected disease were myopia, cold (more than twice a year), and dysmenorrheal. There was statistical significance (P<0.01) in the skin disorder between students from rural and those from urban, the former tended to have a higher detected ratio. There was statistical significance (P<0.05) in the dysmenorrheal between students from rural and those from urban, the former tended to have a lower detected ratio. Physical measurements results showed:average height was (161.68±4.91) cm; mean weight was (52.30±6.80) kg; and body mass index average was 20.00±2.28. The detected ratio of low weight, normal, overweight and obesity adolescent was 25.17%,69.10%, 5.21% and 0.52% in the basis of BMI.33 students whose BMI≥24 received fasting blood glucose test, the average result was (4.748±0.644) mmol/L.1.56% of students had hypertension, and 2.78% of students had bradycardia. There was statistical significance (P<0.01) for students from urban had higher height and weight measurements than students from rural. Among 54% students who had chosen to lose weight,34% of them selected going on a diet, and 31% of them tried exercise. Compared to rural students, higher proportion of urban students had chosen losing weight, and selecting the methods of on diet and taking diet medication. There was statistical significance (P<0.01)ConclusionsThe survey results showed:the median cost per capita monthly consumption of female nursing students was 500 yuan, with food as the major consuming. Although 93% students took breakfast regularly, there was certain problem of the meals quality. Animal food's intake was too low. Only 18% students drank milk regularly; and students who took fish and animal liver weekly were only 40%.Snack consumption was 47%. Many students chose unhealthy snacks, especially urban students choosing snacks according heavily on the food taste. The average sleep time of students was (7:38± 0:43) hours; however, the study time was too long. The primary after-school activities were pleasure-seeking and physical exercise was too little. Students surfed the internet sensibly. High proportion of detected diseases of female nursing students were myopia, cold (more than twice a year), and dysmenorrheal.25% students'weight lower than the normal range, which indicated the problem of female students pursuing weight loss excessively...