A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Healthy Lifestyle Profile of University Students in Faisalabad; Pakistan

Background: This study described the effect and correlation of independent variables such as discipline (MBBS, BDS, DND, AHS, DPT, and OD), study years (first, second, third, and fourth), and living system (with family or university hostel) with a healthy lifestyle. Objective: The study aims to assess the healthy behaviors of students enrolled in various disciplines at The University of Faisalabad. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Settings: The data was collected from students enrolled in various disciplines such as Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), bachelor of dental surgery (BDS), doctor of nutrition and dietetics (DND), allied health sciences (AHS), doctor of physical therapy (DPT), and doctor of optometry (OD) during different study year such as first, second, third and fourth years at the University of Faisalabad (TUF). Duration: Dec 2023 to January 2024 Methods: A questionnaire designed for health-promoting lifestyle profile II (HPLP-II) was distributed among 384 students to assess their healthy life profile. One-way ANOVA and chi-square tests were applied to check the effect and regression analysis was done to determine the correlation of independent variables with the overall HPLP-II and its six subscales (p>0.05). Results: MBBS participants got the overall HPLP-II mean value of 2.541±0.068 with the highest mean score 2.869±0.036 for spiritual growth and the lowest mean score 2.169±0.075 for health responsibility. This overall HPLP-II score declined among BDS (2.529±0.089), DND (2.521±0.059), AHS (2.513±0.058), DPT (2.498±0.078), and OD (2.493±0.019). The first-year participants showed significantly better health responsibilities, physical activity, spiritual growth, and nutrition than the participants of the second, third, and fourth years. The participants who were living with their families had significantly better nutrition, health responsibility, interpersonal relations, and physical activity scores as compared to those students living in university hostels. Conclusion: These findings relate the HPLP-II to a variety of university disciplines, study years, and students’ living systems. This will allow university administrators and healthcare practitioners to devise interventions aimed at enhancing and designing healthy lifestyles and suitable educational programs for students.