Health behaviours of the students from Norway studying in Poland

Introduction. Health behaviors are related in a very strong way with the social and cultural context, which is why learning about the cultures of other nations is an extremely important element in the provision of nursing care. Maintenance of appropriate behavior and eliminate those that threaten the health should be a primary area of impact those involved in health care, including nurses.

Aim. Aim of this study was to investigate the health behaviors of students studying in Norway, Poland, on the example of Norwegians studying medicine in Krakow.

Material and methods. The study was conducted using a survey tool. Research tools used in the form of a questionnaire, and self-efficacy scale R. Schwarzer and M. Jerusalem. The study was conducted in March 2013 of 61 Norwegians studying at Jagiellonian University Medical College Faculty of Medicine at the Medical School for Foreigners. The results were statistically analyzed using the chi2 test and t-Student.

Results. The study showed that subjects the students are trying to led healthy lifestyle through physical activity, coping with stress. Risky behaviors studied appeared in the field of nutrition, as well as smoking, drinking alcohol, use of hormonal contraceptives, practicing consensual sex. Among the students had had a high level of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is dependent on the health behaviors such as smoking, some ways of coping with stress, drinking, playing sports.

Conclusions. Understanding the cultural context of health behavior of people from different cultural areas is essential to provide professional, culturally adapted nursing care. Nursing Topics 2014; 22 (2): 196–201