Comparative study of health promoting behaviors among nursing, midwifery and operating room students in Nursing and Midwifery School of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Health promoting behaviors are one of the determining criteria for health. Assessment of medical students’ health as a group who will be responsible for giving public-health-related services to people in early future is one of the most important tasks of universities. This study was conducted to determine and compare the health promoting behaviors among nursing, midwifery and operating room students in nursing and midwifery school of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2014-2015. This descriptive-comparative study was conducted on 156 nursing, midwifery and operating room students, selected through cluster random sampling. Data collection instruments included a demographic characteristics checklist and “Health Promoting Behaviors Questionnaire” (HPLP II). Validity and reliability of the instrument were confirmed in previous studies. Data were analyzed SPSS/ 20. The mean score of health promoting behaviors in midwifery students was higher than nursing and operating room students (140.18±18.05). In addition, the higher mean score in nursing and midwifery was in domain of spiritual growth (26.33±5.06 and 27.86±5.25). In operating room students, this score was in the domain of interpersonal relationship (26.71±4.29). The mean scores of health promoting behaviors in domain of nutrition in nursing, midwifery and operating room courses were different with ANOVA test (P=0.005), while the overall mean scores of health promoting behaviors and their other domains in three courses were not significantly different. Despite the credibility score of health promoting behaviors of students in the three explored disciplines, the mean score of health promoting behaviors in domain of health responsibility, physical activity and stress management were low. Therefore, in order to change the behavior of students, it is worthwhile to offer educational and cultural- athletic programs in the faculties.