[Research on Pisa University student's life style and health]

Surveys on life and health conditions of university students besides providing useful epidemiologic data partly related to the young population. They are potentially useful for the intervention planning aimed to remove possible environmental or behavioural risk factors. Following these purpose a survey sample about 1200 student attending the University of Pisa was carried out through an anonymous questionnaire about 41 questions focused on behaviours and lifestyles of young people, possible health problems, self-perception of the health state, the use of public health services, and the more commonly used (or preferred) sources of information on health topics. The results suggest that although the self perception of the state of health is broadly positive for the majority of students, there is also a significant frequency of individuals declaring significant at risk behaviours (persistence of sexual practices at risk, drug use, alcohol and smoke abuse). The consumption, also sporadic, of psicoattive substances has been declared gives beyond 40% of the students, in particular 37% asserts to have tried drugs. The habit to smoke appeared diffused much between the students; the percentage of smokers turns out equal to 41% in total (40% females, 42% males). 76% of the interviewed ones has declared to be sexually active, the percentage of those who have declared multiple relations or occasional is elevated (12%), and 47% of the students asserts to use the condom with fixed partner and 77% with occasional partner. Moreover there seems to be a significant association between the changes in the diet and other lifestyles that are due to the "university lifestyle" (as a consequence of leaving the family or increased commuting) and the insurgence of several types of sickness, e.g. gastroenteric disturbances and fever attacks. Finally, the present investigation suggests that few interventions on services offered to students (such as accommodation, teaching structures and especially the creation of a "health office" where students can acquire information on health and other topics related to their condition) could have a significantly beneficial impact on the general state of health of the university population.