Health-related behaviors of undergraduate medical students of public sector university, Karachi 2022

Abstract

Objective: to study health-related behaviours of undergraduate medical students of the public sector university of Karachi by analyzing the following aspects : 1. Daily water intake and its importance. 2. Refractive errors and the importance of their correction 3. Sun protection. Study Design: Cross-sectional randomized study Methodology: From April 2022 to June 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Sindh Medical University considering all ethical values. A sample size of 316, was calculated with an open epi calculator. We collected data through online Google forms and hard copies. SPSS 22 was utilized for data analysis, where the confidence interval was 95% with an error margin of 5%, and a 0.05 p-value. Results: Daily Water Intake: 63.9% of participants marked the correct daily water requirement which is 2 liters (8 glasses). Only 50.3% of pupils fall under the category that were consuming the standard daily water intake. The mostdifficult part of fulfilling the daily water requirement was that they could not remember drinking water. Refractive errors and the importance of their correction: 94.6% of participants wore spectacles for far vision, highlighting the prevalence of myopia. 81% of pupils had a range of refractive errors between 1-5, reflecting that error ranges are not high. A positive response was recorded busting the myth that spectacles weaken the eyesight when 70.6% of people negated it. Sun protection: 62.3% of pupils considered UV light harmful. 54.4% stated that their outdoor hours were from 2 to 4 hours. When asked if they check the UV light index before spending a long day outdoors, 78.5% said no. The application of sunscreen when going out was acknowledged by 61.7%. 90.2% responded that they agree to the fact that sunscreens are effective against sun protection. Conclusion: With an aspiration to become a nobilityamongst doctors, medical students must recognize their responsibility in being the representatives of right and wrong. Thus, the participation of the students in this study provides valuable insight into their health related behaviors portrayed against the risks of sun exposure and the benefits of using sunscreen as a protective measure, along with corrective measures chosen against poor sight such as spectacles, and determining the daily water requirements and their benefits. Findings in this study portray that although it is reassuring that a majority of the medical students know the harmful effects of prolonged sun exposure, a lot still needs to be done on the part of our future doctors in the effective method of application of sunscreens. This study has also shown a generally correct direction towards early treatment and whether wearing spectacles continuously further deteriorates sight. However, there is a considerable notion of dependency upon a certain apparatus ergo a dependent lifestylecomprising issues such as lowered confidence and negative affect on wedding proposals. Further studies should be done with focus on the society’s role in adhering to early wearing of spectacles and the issues associated with the habit of wearing them such as rashes, nose spots, headaches and dark circles. This study has also made it significantly apparent that the majority of the medical students still do not have the correct knowledge regarding daily water requirements and their benefits, which needs to be addressed. This will help them learn better habits about drinking water that will benefit their personal and academic lives. They will be able to treat their patients with the correct information as well. Keywords: health behaviors, medical students, water intake, refractive errors, sun protection.