Wybrane czynniki psychospołeczne a zachowania zdrowotne młodzieży licealnej. Część I. Poziom wiedzy a wybrane zachowania zdrowotne
Level of Knowledge and Selected Health-Related Behaviours in Secondary School Students. Initial Study

Summary/Abstract: Introduction. Health- related behaviours are one of the crucial factors in maintaining health. They play a significant role in healthcare and quality of life. Considering a change in health-related habits, individuals may take up actions aimed at achieving the optimal standard of life. All factors that are considered to be determinants of health have indirect or direct influence on health- related behaviours and lifestyle. Factors that influence the development of health-related behaviours are predisposing factors (e.g. knowledge, beliefs), enabling factors (skills important for health) and reinforcing factors (social norms). Early conscious implementation of prophylactic actions may contribute to improvement in health quality and a decrease in the level of morbidity in population. Objective. To assess the relationship between the level of knowledge and health- related behaviours in secondary school students. Material and methods. The study was carried out in a group of 1,036 students (688 girls and 348 boys) of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd form of a secondary school. The study was conducted by means of a diagnostic survey with the use of an anonymous own questionnaire assessing the students’ knowledge in the scope of selected risk factors for diseases of affluence in an electronic form. Also, the Inventory of Health- Related Behaviours (IZZ) was used in the study. Results. The mean score in the scope of knowledge of diseases of affluence was 14.17. The 1st- grade students demonstrated the lowest level of knowledge in comparison to the 2nd- grade students (p = 0.0000) and 3rd-grade students (p = 0.0004). A low level of health- related behaviours was observed in 42.52% of the respondents. In the students with a high level of knowledge the IZZ score (83.00 pts) was significantly higher in than the students with an average level of knowledge (77.54 pts), p = 0.0000 or with a low one (74.86 pts), p = 0.0000. Conclusions. (1) The respondents demonstrated an average level of knowledge in the scope of the analyzed risk factors for diseases of affluence, and mostly a low level of health- related behaviours. The level of knowledge depends on the level of education. (2) The students’ limited level of knowledge of risk factors for diseases of affluence and the correlated low level of health- related behaviours indicate a necessity to implement or enhance healthcare education as early as in the 1st grade of the secondary school.

• Details
• Contents