Background: Medical school is considered a critical developmental stage for students. They face many challenges and rapid changes. Unfortunately, they adopt unhealthy behaviors that can negatively affect their future health and their prospective role as healthcare providers in some cases.

Objective: The study aimed at comparing gender differences in health-promoting lifestyles among medical students at An-Najah National University in Palestine.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 400 students comprised of 22.25% males and 77.75% females. According to Pender’s model, a self-reported anonymous questionnaire, including the health-promoting lifestyle profile II was distributed to a convenient sample of students during the Spring of 2018. Data analysis was performed using descriptive analysis and parametric tests.

Results: Gender differences in total health-promoting lifestyle profile II scores and health responsibility were marginally significant, with females having higher scores. Males were more significantly engaged in the physical activity subscale than females (p < 0.01). Females scored significantly higher than males in the interpersonal relations subscale (p < 0.001). Gender differences in other subscales were statistically insignificant.

Conclusions: This study might give healthcare providers and educators insights into developing specific warranted interventions and gender-sensitive measures to orient medical students towards better healthy lifestyles. Medical schools are invited to prioritize healthy styles and behaviors based on gender in the curriculum.

Title

Palestinian Medical and Pharmaceutical Journa

Publisher

An-najah national university

Publisher Country

Palestine

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

None

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

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Year

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Pages

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