The new index of health-preserving behavior of students
AbstractThe aim of the study was to correlate a wide range of factors affecting health behavior with their total score and comorbidity index to justify a new index of health-preserving behavior.
Material and methods. In the period from November 1, 2017 to December 1, 2018 the randomized blind gender-stratified study was conducted on the basis of the Far Eastern Federal University and the Vladivostok state Medical University. The sample size was 934 students of both sexes, of which 448 (47.9%) studied in elementary courses and 486 (52.1%) were graduating students. The average response frequency was 92.9%. All students filled out self Assessment Questionnaires for students (Pozdeeva, 2008; with the authors' additions). An objective health condition and a comorbidity index were assessed according to the medical records of student health care facilities (forms 025/у; 001-1/у; 062/у). When comparing values in subgroups, a confidence interval of ±5% was considered sufficient to determine significant differences. The two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used in statistical processing of data arrays. The correlation of indicators was determined with the calculation of Spearman correlation coefficient. When working with the obtained material, the software package Statistica 6.0 was used.
Result. In the course of the study, a wide range of vulnerabilities was identified that affect the students' health-preserving behavior. The indicators were evaluated on a 5-point scale. Students evaluated the following parameters: living conditions [1.7 (0.3) points], access to health care [1.7 (0.6)], personal income [2.2 (0.7)], transport accessibility of the university [1.7 (0.6)], comfort of learning space (0.9—1.1). It was found that students show mild interest in health information [2.5 (1.7)], negatively assess their daily regimen [1.9 (0.7)], note lack of night sleep and leisure time [0.7 (0.5)]. Most students were not committed to physical education and sport [2.2 (0.5)], hardly participated in public discussions of healthy lifestyle formation [2.2 (0.5)], rarely seek medical advice, even when it was necessary [2.3 (1.4)]. Analysis of correlation dependence between individual factors that characterize students' health-preserving behavior, total score, and comorbidity index, allowed us to identify 21 parameters that had at least an average and high level of correlation with both composite indicators. It served as the basis for inclusion of these factors in the Index of students' health-preserving behavior.
Conclusion. Most students (95%) assessed their health behavior, according to the proposed index of health-preserving behavior, at 61.1-80.7 points, with the maximum possible value of 105 points. Further investigation is needed on the criterion and discriminant validity of the proposed index of health-preserving behavior. Nevertheless, preliminary data allow us to speak with self-conscious optimism of its high constructive validity and efficiency in comprehensive assessment of students' health-preserving behavior.
Keywords:students, behavior, health-preserving, questionnaires, comorbidity index
For citation: Kuznetsov V.V., Kosilov K.V., Bayramov R., Kosilova E.K., Yuschenko N.I., Smirnov E.A. The new index of health-preserving behavior of students. Meditsinskoe obrazovanie i professional'noe razvitie [Medical Education and Professional Development]. 2019; 10 (4): 126-43. doi: 10.2441 1/2220-8453-2019-14010. (in Russian)