Affiliations: Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Mary Ann Stark, 915 E. Eagle Lake
Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA. Tel.: +1 269 375 9701; Fax: +1 269 387 8170;
E-mail: mary.stark@wmich.edu
Abstract: Objective: Living a healthy lifestyle in order to manage stress
encountered in the health care system is important for health care
professionals. The purpose of this study was to increase healthy behaviors of
undergraduate students in professional health care majors by introducing a
health promotion intervention in a required course. Participants: The sample consisted of 201 undergraduate health
professional students from nursing (NUR) (n=82, 40.8%), occupational therapy
(OT) (n=72, 35.8%), and speech- language pathology (SLP) (n=47, 23.4%). Methods: A pretest-posttest comparison group design was used. The
NUR and OT students received a health promotion intervention to encourage a
healthy lifestyle in a required course. SLP students served as a comparison
group and did not receive content on self health promotion. Results: The comparison group (SLP) had significantly lower scores
on the overall Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII), physical
activity and nutrition scales at posttest when compared to pretest. In
contrast, students in the intervention group (NUR & OT) significantly
increased in their health responsibility as measured on the HPLPII survey at
the end of the semester. Conclusions: Infusing content on healthy behaviors in undergraduate
curricula may better prepare professionals for living a healthy lifestyle.
Keywords: Health promotion, healthy behaviors, health professions, stress, health profession education, college students, self-care, burnout
