Secondary School Students’ Knowledge of the Influence of Lifestyle on the Occurrence of Circulatory Disorders and Neoplastic Diseases vs. Their Health Behaviour

Małgorzata Dziubak
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Małgorzata Dziedzic
Anna Mierzwa
Pracownia Podstaw Opieki Położniczej, Instytut Pielęgniarstwa i Położnictwa, Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu, UJ CM, Kraków
Zakład Pielęgniarstwa Klinicznego, Instytut Pielęgniarstwa i Położnictwa, Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu, UJ CM, Kraków, Polska
Pracownia Podstaw Opieki Położniczej, Instytut Pielęgniarstwa i Położnictwa, Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu, UJ CM, Kraków

Abstract

Introduction: The leading causes of death in Poland have been circulatory disorders and neoplastic diseases. These are civilizationrelated diseases, in which many risk factors are connected with an unhealthy lifestyle. It is, therefore, vital to propagate knowledge of the roots of their occurrence and to promote a healthy lifestyle in the early years, since lifestyle disease prevention in a mature age is belated.

Aims: To examine secondary school students’ knowledge about the relationship between lifestyle and circulatory disorders and neoplastic diseases, as well as to assess the influence of this knowledge on the students’ health-related behavior. Materials and method: A survey of 125 third-year students of a Krakow secondary school was conducted in 2010. The tool was an original questionnaire. The outcome of the survey was subjected to statistical analysis with the use of Statistica 8.0 computer program.

Outcome: The students who have a broad knowledge of the influence of lifestyle on the incidence of circulatory system disorders and neoplastic diseases, simultaneously have a broad knowledge of the prevention of these diseases (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0,6693 with p=0,0000). On the other hand, it has not been proved that a significant correlation exists between the amount of information they have and the health-related behavior of these students (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0,0688 with p=0,4455).

Conclusion: Teenage respondents show a broad knowledge of the effect of lifestyle on the development of circulatory system disorders and neoplastic diseases. No significant correlation has been found between the knowledge young people have and their health-related behavior which reduces the risk of these diseases, especially abstaining from smoking and drinking alcohol.

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