Health-promoting behaviors of physical therapy students in Khon Kaen University

Abstract

Health promotion is the responsibility of each person to achieve good health. Health-promoting behaviors

should be practiced regularly by every one, especially physical therapists who are health promotion providers.

During the educational years of physical therapy training, greater emphasis should be placed on the important of an

appropriate health-promoting behavior habit to the students. This study aimed to evaluate health-promoting behaviors

of physical therapy students in Khon Kaen University and compare the behaviors among students in each educational

year. Participants were 144 undergraduate physical therapy students (mean age 20.2

± 1.3 years) who were

studying at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University in 2008. Their health-promoting

behaviors were assessed by a self-completed questionnaire namely the Thai health promoting lifestyle profile

II (HPLP-II). The questionnaire contains 52 items that evaluate behaviors regarding health responsibility, physical

activity, nutritional habits, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. The results revealed that

the participantsํ overall health-promoting behaviors were at a fair level. The 6 subscales of the behaviors ranged

from good to very poor, with the highest and lowest levels in the interpersonal relations and physical activity,

respectively. Significant differences in health-promoting behaviors among students in the 4 educational years were

found in the health responsibility and physical activity (

P < 0.05). These findings could be used as database for the

curriculum planners and faculty administrators to set up a strategy of health promotion, structure healthier environments,

and develop health education programs for encouraging physical therapy students to adopt healthy lifestyles.