Health Science Education Research Articles

Grit and Optimism Predict Academic Performance Among Medical and Health Sciences Students at a Malaysian University: A Cross-sectional Study

Grit is the perseverance and passion for long-term goals, optimism represents an individual’s expectation of a positive outcome in most situations, whereas life satisfaction is a major indicator of well-being. Grit, optimism, and life satisfaction play a role in medical and health science education, as they are associated with academic performance. This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between grit, optimism, and life satisfaction among medical and health sciences students at a Malaysian university using the 12-Item Grit Scale, Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Medical students were significantly grittier than optometry students (p = 0.015) and significantly more optimistic than biomedical science students (p = 0.007). Academic performance was significantly correlated with grit (r = 0.135, p = 0.027) and optimism (r = 0.139, p = 0.023). On the other hand, a significant correlation existed between grit and optimism (r = 0.316, p = 0.000) as well as optimism and life satisfaction (r = 0.328, p = 0.000), whereas a correlation was observed between grit and life satisfaction (r = 0.171, p = 0.003). The findings show that interdisciplinary differences in grit and optimism exist and that grit and optimism are related to the academic performance of medical and health sciences students. Grit, optimism, and life satisfaction were interrelated in this study.

Student-Centered Active Learning Improves Performance in Solving Higher-Level Cognitive Questions in Health Sciences Education

Student-centered active learning (SCAL) shifts the focus from the teacher to the student. Implementing SCAL requires the development of new forms of assessment beyond memorization and comprehension. This paper aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of SCAL by analyzing student performance at different cognitive levels. In flipped classrooms, students completed tasks with varying cognitive demands. The tests measured knowledge (level 1), comprehension (level 2), application (level 3) and analysis (level 4). This approach to assessment assesses not only the acquisition of content, but also skills that are critical to a health science student’s future career. The results of expository learning were compared with student-centered collaborative learning in the Anatomy and Embryology I course over three academic years. Student opinions were collected through 326 anonymous Wooclap® (Version: 2019101500) surveys. No differences in performance were found for low-cognitive-level questions. However, SCAL significantly improved performance on higher-cognitive-level questions that required problem solving and application of knowledge. Despite the benefits of SCAL, it requires more effort from both teachers and students. The current assessment system at Universidad Complutense, which measures teaching quality primarily in terms of student satisfaction, tends to penalize efforts to innovate. Many students are attracted to passive learning techniques because they provide a clear and structured path to success. This approach, which focuses on memorizing information for exams, provides a sense of security. Teachers need to have a strong belief in the effectiveness of SCAL methods to persist in their implementation.

Capturing invisible health threats through augmented reality-based public health messaging: focusing on perceived realism, issue involvement, and message attitudes

ABSTRACT Augmented reality (AR) has been extensively applied to health science education. However, a question still remains as to the optimal way to design AR interfaces to enhance users’ understanding of information that is presented in text format. Utilising the context of indoor air pollution, the current study examines the effects of messages about particulate matter (PM) delivered using different modes of AR visualisation (i.e. overlaying AR visuals onto users’ faces [AR-overlay self] vs. overlaying AR visuals onto users’ surroundings [AR-overlay environment] vs. no use of AR [AR control]). A between-subjects online experiment (N = 306) demonstrated that the AR-overlay environment has a pronounced effect on perceived realism toward 3D-rendered PM, which induced powerful effects on increasing both issue involvement and positive attitudes toward the textual information being presented. Compared to the AR control, the AR-overlay environment demonstrated a serial and positive mediation effect on perceived realism, which subsequently influenced issue involvement and message attitudes. However, overlaying 3D-rendered PM onto one’s face turned out to be a less effective means of eliciting perceived realism. Implications are discussed in the context of how to design effective AR interfaces that can best help users understand health science information.

Integrating Spirituality in Health Science Education: An Empirical Study of University Students and Lecturers

This research interrogates the integration of spirituality in health science education through a semi-structured survey of 23 nursing students as well as semi-structured surveys and focus group interviews conducted with seven lecturers in the school of health sciences at St. Paul’s University, Kenya. The research acknowledges the way in which the COVID pandemic has foregrounded public health issues such as stress, mental health, and trauma in the specific areas of student self-care, nursing practice, curriculum review, and faculty training and development. Conducted by a theologian and health scientist, this study utilizes an integrative model of faith and science to demonstrate the need for integrating spirituality in health science education within the context of Christian higher education.

Development of Clinical Simulation Programs and Their Importance in the Accreditation of Simulation Centers

Introduction: The development of Clinical Simulation requires well-structured programs tailored to the demands of university-level education in the Health Sciences, as well as appropriate management and accreditation by international evaluation entities. Accredited simulation centers are essential for health sciences education, allowing students to learn safely through the repetition of activities until they are correctly executed, thereby safeguarding patient safety. Objective: Describe the guidelines and importance of a Clinical Simulation Program as support for the activities carried out by the Health Area Simulation Center of the San Gregorio de Portoviejo University (USGP), Manabí, Ecuador, under the demands of the organizations of international accreditation.Methodology: Exploratory qualitative research, based on a review of bibliographic sources from the last 10 years regarding Simulation Programs and their importance in the accreditation of Clinical Simulation Centers.Results: A solid bibliographic foundation for the development of the Clinical Simulation Program at USGP.Conclusions: USGP is engaged in sustained efforts to develop its Simulation Center and to apply Simulation-Based Education methodologies.

Assessment of diabetes related-knowledge and practice among Algerian university students: a cross-sectional survey

Diabetes is increasing significantly in the world especially among low- and middle-income countries including Algeria where it is ranked second in term of morbidity. This study was conducted aiming to evaluate the level of knowledge and lifestyle practice among Algerian university students. A national online cross-sectional survey was conducted between 14 November 2022 and 11 February 2023. 417 students answered the questionnaire. Demographically, females (82%), singles (86.1%), students aged between 20 and 30 years old (62.2%) and those living in urban areas (86.8%) were the most represented. More than half were students of bachelor level (52.3%) and were mainly studying in Natural and Life Sciences (37.2%) and Humanities (29.5%) faculties, and 10.6% of them declared living with diabetes. Overall, an average percentage of 75.1% correct responses was obtained and 54.6% of the respondents have shown a high level of knowledge. If age, the field of study and paternal education were associated with a high level of knowledge, being a Health Sciences student (OR: 10.175, CI 95%: 2.985–34.677) and being diabetic (OR: 10.486, CI95%: 3.424–32.12) were highly significant factors (p < 0.01). Regarding lifestyle practice, a moderate level of good practice of 54.2% was obtained and the level of knowledge was the only associated factor. These results described that some gaps of knowledge were observed especially among certain categories including students without formal education in Health, and Natural and Life Sciences. Results of this study could be helpful to the health program deciders in their campaigns of prevention against this silent disease.

A systematic mapping of public health master’s and structured doctoral programs in Germany

BackgroundWell-trained public health professionals are key to addressing both global and local public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Though availability of programs has increased, the population health science (PHS) and public health (PH) higher education landscape in Germany remains scattered. To date, no comprehensive overview of programs exists.ObjectivesThis study aimed to map PHS and PH master’s and structured doctoral programs in Germany, including selected program characteristics, curricula and target competencies.MethodsWe conducted a systematic mapping of PHS and PH programs in Germany following a prospectively registered protocol (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KTCBA). Relevant master’s and doctoral programs were identified by two study authors independently searching a comprehensive higher education database, which was, for doctoral programs, supplemented with a google search. For PHS programs, general characteristics were mapped and for the subset of PH programs, in-depth characteristics were extracted.ResultsOverall, 75 master’s and 18 structured doctoral PHS programs were included. Of these, 23 master’s and 8 doctoral programs focused specifically on PH. The majority of PHS master’s programs awarded a Master of Science degree (55 out of 75 programs). The PH master’s program curricula offered various courses, allowing for different specializations. Courses on topics like public health, epidemiology, health systems (research) and research methods were common for the majority of the master’s programs, while courses on physical activity, behavioral science, nutrition, and mental health were offered less frequently. Structured PH doctoral programs were mainly offered by medical faculties (6 out of 8 programs) and awarded a doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D.) (6 out of 8 programs). PH doctoral programs were very heterogeneous regarding curricula, entry, and publication requirements. There was a broad geographical distribution of programs across Germany, with educational clusters in Munich, Berlin, Bielefeld and Düsseldorf.ConclusionGermany offers a diverse landscape of PHS and PH master’s programs, but only few structured doctoral programs. The variety of mandatory courses and competencies in these programs reflect Germany’s higher education system’s answer to the evolving demands of the PH sector. This review may aid in advancing PH education both in Germany and globally.

Undergraduates’ workplace learning in health sciences education: psychometric properties of single-item measures

BackgroundUndergraduates’ workplace learning is an important part of health sciences education. Educational psychology research considers many different aspects of self-regulated learning at the workplace, including cognition, motivation, emotions, and context. Multivariate longitudinal and diary studies in this field require fewer items than alternatives or even a single item per construct and can reveal the sub-processes of workplace learning and contribute to a better understanding of students’ learning. Short instruments are necessary for application in workplace settings, especially stressful ones, to mitigate survey fatigue. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of single items measuring various aspects of workplace learning.MethodsTwenty-nine single items selected from the Workplace Learning Inventory in Health Sciences Education were analyzed for reliability, information reproduction, and relationships within the nomological network. The authors additionally analyzed four generally formulated single items’ relationships with the full Workplace Learning Inventory scales and external criteria within the nomological network. Participants were 214 ninth- or tenth-semester veterinary medicine students in Austria and Germany who were learning at varied workplaces during the winter semester of 2021/2022.ResultsOf the 29 single items selected from existing scales, 27 showed sufficient reliability, but mixed results were obtained regarding validity. Although the items’ relationships within the nomological network were similar to those of the full scales, information reproduction was insufficient for most items. The four general single items showed acceptable validity, but the reliability of these measures of states could not be assessed.ConclusionsThis paper reported findings on the psychometric properties of single items for undergraduates’ workplace learning in health science education. The findings are crucial for deciding whether to use scales versus single-item measures in future studies. By applying the findings, researchers can be more economical in their workplace learning data collection and can include more constructs.

Lessons Learned from Creation of Health Science Education Program in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Transitional Housing Centers.

Lessons Learned from Creation of Health Science Education Program in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Transitional Housing Centers.

Building a Value-Based Workforce Through Islamic Work Value-Based Recruitment: A Conceptual Review

The increasing ethical infringements, moral violations, and disciplinary problems among employees point to the deteriorations in employee values. Hiring employees merely on common competency-based recruitment (CBR) versus value-based recruitment (VBR) ignores the critical role of values in guiding employee behaviours, thus contributing further to the problems. This study involves a qualitative approach using NVivo text analysis tool to analyse texts and word frequency from 44 references, including 35 journal articles, six policy papers, two books or book chapters and one conference proceedings. The results show that Public Sector ICT Management Review was the top journal with the highest coverage of the study’s main themes, followed by the Journal of Education for Teaching, the Human Resource Management Review, and the Advances in Health Science Education indicating the importance of the value-based workforce in these four areas of employment (i.e., public sector, education, human resource, and health). The word frequency analysis also shows the five most-used words were “values,” “work,” “based,” “selection,” and “recruitment.” These findings show that the references used in this study are valid and reliable relevant to the study’s main themes. Value-based workforce relates to value-based recruitment – building a value-based workforce begins with a good recruitment strategy. In the Islamic context, Islamic work values are highly influential and Islamic work-related values have been used as recruitment conditions for hiring employees during the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) time and the rightly guided caliphs. If incorporated into the value- based model of recruitment, Islamic-related work values could potentially build a value- based workforce. This study has a significant implication to managers especially in finding good employees for the success of the organisation. Recruiting employees through value-based recruitment and selection is believed could reduce many work-related issues and improve organisational effectiveness. This study adds to the body of knowledge on value- based hiring by incorporating theories and Islamic work ideals, which can be used as a guide for future research.

Competence Development Needs of Health Sciences Teacher Candidates and the Factors Connected to Those Needs

Competence Development Needs of Health Sciences Teacher Candidates and the Factors Connected to Those Needs

Toward an Identity for the Field of Doctoral Education in Health Sciences

The Association of Doctoral Programs in Health Sciences (ADPHS) was informally established in November 2019, officially incorporated in August 2021, and is currently a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of the directors of member doctoral programs of health sciences. The ADPHS grew from informal discussions among program directors who agreed that a major problem in the field of doctoral education in health sciences was the lack of a clearly defined and easily articulable identity. The discussions led to the drafting of an informal and nonscientific survey used to help clarify the current health sciences education environment, relevant emerging trends, and the educational philosophies adopted by the directors of health sciences doctoral programs nationally. The results of the survey and follow-up discussions revealed a strong consensus among program directors that the field of doctorate education in health sciences is uniformly characterized by its interdisciplinary nature. In this position paper, we provide the rationale for the formal position of the ADPHS that the identity of the field of doctoral education in health sciences is based on its interdisciplinary approach to education.

The Effect of Augmented Reality Applications on Intravenous Catheter Placement Skill in Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Study

BackgroundAugmented reality (AR) is an emerging technology that is beginning to find use in health science education due to the advantages it brings to the teaching-learning process. This present study assessed the use of AR for the development of IV catheter placement skills in nursing students and the effects of the process on their learning satisfaction and self-confidence levels. MethodsThis randomized controlled study was completed with 91 nursing students in October, 2021, from whom data were collected using the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale (SCLS) and the Intravenous Catheter Placement Procedure Steps Form (IVC-PPSF). ResultsAlthough higher scores were recorded in the experimental group, there was no significant difference in the IV catheter placement success scores or satisfaction of the students (p > 0.05). The difference was statistically significant for Self-Confidence (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe use of an AR application for the teaching of IV catheter placement was found to increase the self-confidence levels of the students. Expanding the use of AR applications into the teaching of other nursing practices will contribute positively to student success levels.

Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice Competence and Professional Skills Using Infographics as a Pedagogical Strategy in Health Science Students: Insights from the InfoHealth Project.

Infographics have been recognised as effective visual tools for concise and accessible communication of data and information in various higher education disciplines, particularly in medical education. However, there is a lack of research on their impact on professional skills, difficulty levels, motivation, and overall satisfaction in health science students. Thus, the present study aimed to analyse the knowledge and usage of graphical resources among health science students and evaluate their competencies, the level of challenge they encountered, and their motivation and satisfaction after completing an infographic creation activity. The InfoHealth educational innovation project, conducted by five teachers from the Faculty of Medicine, served as the context for this study, with 143 students voluntarily participating. The intervention involved students working in groups of 2-3 and selecting their own topics for the infographics while receiving instruction, online guidance, and feedback from teachers. A questionnaire was administered to assess students' perception of skill development and satisfaction with the activity. The findings revealed that schemes were the most recognized and used graphical summaries, compared to synoptic tables and Venn diagrams. The activity led to an increase in professional skills acquisition, motivation, and satisfaction, positively impacting students' interest in evidence-based practice and reinforcing their knowledge. This study highlights the potential of infographics as a pedagogical tool for competency development and student engagement in health science education, suggesting the need for further research comparing infographics with traditional study methods and involving multidisciplinary teams to promote essential skills for future clinical practice.

Virtual assessment in Physiotherapy: Examining perceptions, constructs, and tool characteristics

Introduction: Objective structured clinical examinations have traditionally been used to assess clinical skills. However, these face-to-face clinical assessments were hindered by physical and social restrictions imposed during COVID-19. This created a need to develop novel approaches for reliable assessment of clinical skills. We explored and evaluated a virtual exercise teleconsultation assessment (VETA) to replicate a teleconsultation setting where physiotherapy students were assessed on exercise prescription and coaching skills. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional mixed-methods study using convenience sampling. A VETA was implemented for 172 physiotherapy students via Zoom to allow synchronous interaction with standardised patients (SPs). 67 students and 9 SPs completed two separate post evaluation surveys on themes relating to administration, support, authenticity, effectiveness, and value of the VETA. Likert-type responses were categorised as positive, neutral, or negative while coded qualitative responses were consolidated into themes by inductive content analysis. Results: 76% of students agreed that the assessment was authentic while 93% felt that the SPs were realistic and believable. Responders also highlighted important challenges including the limited camera viewing angle, time and space constraint, adequacy of equipment and reliability of connectivity. Exploratory factor analysis of responses revealed three latent constructs: (1) clarity of assessment, (2) clinical relevance, and (3) value of assessment. Conclusion: Despite the technical challenges, VETA demonstrated clarity and value as an alternative assessment and showed relevance to future telehealth practice, which is increasingly pervasive in clinical settings. This paper demonstrates a feasible approach for the virtual assessment of clinical competencies. Keywords: Health Sciences Education, Virtual Assessment, Clinical Skills, OSCE, Physiotherapy, Exercise Prescription

122 Evaluating the impact of the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: There is a need to develop a workforce of translational research professionals with the skills to innovate, mobilize, and commercialize research for unmet needs in the Canadian health system. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact and value of the master’s degree on the Translational Research Program (TRP) alumni. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study will use a cross-sectional approach and an electronic survey will be administered to alumni. The TRP was established in 2015 and has graduated over 150 students since its inception. Participants will be recruited through convenience sampling via email, social media platforms, and personal communication. Eligible participants must have a conferred Master of Health Science in Translational Research from the University of Toronto. All collected data will remain anonymous and include demographic information about graduation year, race, ethnicity, gender, and employment status. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze and report the findings. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The results of this survey will be used to evaluate how the TRP graduate degree helps alumni contribute to healthcare, learn to think differently, and establish their professional networks. The findings will also be used to inform curriculum improvements, enhance competency-based assessments, and understand demographic differences in student cohorts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion. Investigating the perspectives of alumni reflecting on their degree will support validating the program’s objectives and advance the integration of translational science principles in the healthcare workforce and community. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This research addresses the need to evaluate health sciences education to ensure the program’s novel pedagogical approaches are equipping the next generation of health professionals with the skills to accelerate the transformation of discoveries into interventions that benefit human health, improve clinical medicine, and enhance patient care.

Oral health educators' reflections on teaching 2022 and beyond.

The global pandemic prompted changes in health science education affecting both teaching and learning. This multi-institutional study assesses the near-term implications of these changes on faculty and faculty development. The project goals were to: (1) describe faculty experiences of teaching during the pandemic; (2) identify ways to sustain new pedagogical approaches, (3) describe the types of support faculty members need, and (4) offer recommendations to enhance oral health professions education. A mixed-method approach using exploratory sequential design was conducted in two phases collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Focus group participants included didactic, pre-clinical, and clinical faculty in dental school (DMD/DDS), dental hygiene and dental therapy programs, and also faculty members serving in administrative roles in these programs (N=37). One hundred forty-four faculty participated in the multi-institutional follow-up survey. Focus group and survey results led to 14 recommendations (nine structural and five individual) for oral health profession institutions and educators. Oral health profession education faculty were dramatically impacted by the pandemic and new faculty development needs were identified. Traditional faculty development topics and practices may be no longer applicable in the post-COVID-19 environment. Additionally, the pandemic stimulated creative approaches for curriculum design, teaching, and assessment in oral health profession education. Strategies need to be implemented to sustain these innovations.

Improving assessment of procedural skills in health sciences education: a validation study of a rubrics system in neurophysiotherapy

BackgroundThe development of procedural skills is essential in health sciences education. Rubrics can be useful for learning and assessing these skills. To this end, a set of rubrics were developed in case of neurophysiotherapy maneuvers for undergraduates. Although students found the rubrics to be valid and useful in previous courses, the analysis of the practical exam results showed the need to change them in order to improve their validity and reliability, especially when used for summative purposes. After reviewing the rubrics, this paper analyzes their validity and reliability for promoting the learning of neurophysiotherapy maneuvers and assessing the acquisition of the procedural skills they involve.MethodsIn this cross-sectional and psychometric study, six experts and 142 undergraduate students of a neurophysiotherapy subject from a Spanish university participated. The rubrics’ validity (content and structural) and reliability (inter-rater and internal consistency) were analyzed. The students’ scores in the subject practical exam derived from the application of the rubrics, as well as the rubrics’ criteria difficulty and discrimination indices were also determined.ResultsThe rubrics´ content validity was found to be adequate (Content Validity Index > 0.90). These showed a unidimensional structure, and an acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.71) and inter-rater reliability (Fleiss’ ƙ=0.44, ICC = 0.94). The scores of the subject practical exam practically covered the entire range of possible theoretical scores, showing all the criterion medium-low to medium difficulty indices - except for the one related to the physical therapist position-. All the criterion exhibited adequate discrimination indices (rpbis > 0.39), as did the rubric as a whole (Ferguson’s δ = 0.86). Students highlighted the rubrics´ usefulness for learning the maneuvers, as well as their validity and reliability for formative and summative assessment.ConclusionsThe changed rubrics constitute a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the execution quality of neurophysiotherapy maneuvers from a summative evaluation viewpoint. This study facilitates the development of rubrics aimed at promoting different practical skills in health-science education.

ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH SKILLS

The knowledge economy is a system of consumption and production that is based on intellectual capital. Specifically, this refers to the ability to capitalize on scientific discoveries and applied research including research studies at the university. To develop a successful post-graduate program in research needs a robust and sustainable research environment. A guideline named "Best Practices for PhD Training" was produced by the Organization for PhD Education in Health Sciences in the European System, a European platform to promote best practices in PhD education in health sciences. The extensive advice and suggestions made in the guidelines apply to all aspects of PhD and research programs, of which supervision is a crucial part. The success of a thesis depends on a productive supervisor-student relationship built on respect, accountability, and engagement. Active researchers who obtain training to hone their overseeing abilities should serve as supervisors. They act as both scientific and moral role models in academic life. The employment of a second supervisor in addition to the primary one is strongly advised to boost monitoring student development more effectively and to prevent interpersonal disputes. The obligations of the supervisor should be outlined in institutional regulations. The task could be more clearly defined and may serve as a beginning point in a contract created by the institution and signed by the supervisor and the student. Grievance methods must be plain and obvious in the event of a conflict. Students' professional development should be supported by their supervisors, who should also help them become autonomous researchers. Quite a number of surveys revealed considerable dissatisfaction among students with their supervisors. There is a great deal of strain due to performance pressure on both students and supervisors. Students worry about their future employment opportunities. These stress spots should be taken into account by institutional regulations to improve the welfare of both professors and students. Small-group instruction and learning have become increasingly popular in medical school as a tool to assist research students with their studies and promote deep learning. Postgraduate learners can exercise their higher-order thinking and cognitive abilities by researching the problems with undergraduate medical student supervision. Thus, encourages self-motivation while as a postgraduate researcher and fosters adult learning, accepting responsibility for one's own development, and adult learning.&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/edu/0758/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Body mass index and healthy lifestyle practices among Peruvian university students: a comparative study among academic discipline.

Excess body weight and an unhealthy lifestyle are a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. University students are susceptible to unhealthy habits and obesity. This study compared body mass index (BMI) and healthy lifestyle practices among university students from four academic disciplines: Health Sciences, Business Sciences, Human Sciences and Education, and Engineering/Architecture. A cross-sectional study was carried out using a sample of 6,642 university students selected by non-probability convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used to assess healthy lifestyle practices. Students in the areas of Business Sciences and Engineering/Architecture had a higher BMI than their peers in Health Sciences (B = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15-0.56 and 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.52; p = 0.001). Additionally, these students tended to adopt less healthy lifestyle (B = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.20 to -0.01 and -0.09, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.00; p < 0.05) compared to those in Health Sciences. Although students of Health Sciences and Human Sciences and Education exhibited healthy lifestyle patterns, there is a clear need to improve eating and living habits in general among the university population to mitigate the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases.