Health-promoting behaviours, their relationships and correlates in nursing students: Implications for nursing education and practice.

Abstract

Despite numerous studies across the globe, most studies on Health-Promoting Lifestyle behaviours among nursing students were restricted to descriptive analysis with limited implications for nursing education and practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of health-promoting lifestyle behaviours, analyze their relationships and correlates among nursing students. Cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 nursing students in India. Socio-demographic profile and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II scale were administered. Subscales inter-correlation were computed. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of Health Promoting Behaviours. Nursing students had modest level of health-promoting behaviours (131.57±17.90). Physical activity had the lowest score (16.44±4.31). Regression analyses showed health-related characteristics to have more influence on health-promoting behaviours than socio-demographic characteristics (p<0.002). Nursing students with insufficient physical activity (AOR=0.26; 95% CI: 0.13-0.52) had poor Health-promoting lifestyle profile than those with good physical activity. There is a need to strengthen the nursing curriculum and training environment to promote physical activity for nursing students to promote their health and empower them as future health promoters.