Are Italian nursing students healthy and having protective lifestyle behaviours? A pilot study.

Aim of the study was to investigate the lifestyles of nursing students attending the first year at an Italian school of nursing, before their knowledge of health promotion and health education can condition their behaviour. Research suggests that nurses themselves, in both the acute and primary care settings, perceive that health education is an important part of their role. The study consisted of a self-administered questionnaire with five sections: general data, and questions on nutrition, physical activity, smoking behaviour and alcohol. Response rate was 89.2% (149/167): 87.2% of respondents reported they were satisfied with their health status; 70.5% of students had a normal body mass index; 40.6% of males and 23.1% of females played a sport; 49.7% had never smoked in their life; 50.3% had smoked at least once; 62.7% were smokers and 75.2% of students had drunk alcohol at least once. The students surveyed adopt unhealthy behaviours like smoking, use of alcohol and poor physical activity even if they consider they are in good health. The study stresses the fact that the nursing population needs to be specifically trained to make positive changes. This is important for their education and also for their position as role models for patients they will care for in the future.