Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025
E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Multiple recommended health behaviors among medical students in Western Canada: a descriptive study of self-reported
Nathanael Ip1, Kendra Scarrott2, Annalijn I Conklin1,3,4
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Background:
General medical practitioners are responsible for promoting and prescribing lifestyle modification and serve as role models for healthy behaviors. We aimed to assess self-reported knowledge, adherence, barriers and time spent on all recommended health behaviors among medical students.
Methods:
A cross-sectional online survey of eight behavioral domains among undergraduate medical students in The University of British Columbia, Canada, was analysed using descriptive statistics and visual display.
Results:
Between March and April 2023, 137 medical students participated in the survey (74% female). Over 80% had knowledge of five health behavior recommendations, but lacked knowledge of specific dietary recommendations in particular. Over 60% reported meeting guideline-recommended levels for tobacco, weekly alcohol, daily alcohol (females only), and physical activity (males only). Large gaps existed between knowledge and adherence for physical activity, sleep, sedentariness, screen time, and dietary recommendations. Sex differences in knowledge and adherence to recommended health behaviors were identified. Time spent on wellness focused on sleep (47-49 h/week), diet (9.6 h/week), exercise (5.8 h/week), and hobbies (6.1 h/week). Forgetting recommendations (69% of females, 71% of males), and lack of time (72% of females, 52% of males) were principal barriers to knowledge and adherence.
Conclusion:
Most medical students in Western Canada reported not meeting multiple recommended health behaviors. Time was the largest barrier to adherence and free time was spent on sleep. Medical education may require protected time and dedicated content for health behaviors to ensure future physicians can be role models of health promotion for patients.
More Related Videos
07:32Use of Galvanic Skin Responses, Salivary Biomarkers, and Self-reports to Assess Undergraduate Student Performance During a Laboratory Exam Activity
Published on: February 10, 2016
13:44Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
02:16Surveys
01:29Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
01:50Cross-Sectional Research
01:17Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data
Health History
The initial step in assessing the GI system is obtaining a comprehensive health history. This includes inquiring about the patient's history or presence of problems...