Table 2 Difference of health lifestyle among non – health colleges and health colleges
From: Health promoting lifestyle of university students in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional assessment
Variable | Non – health colleges (N = 671) | Health colleges (N = 985) | P = value | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Never | Sometimes | Often | Routinely | Never | Sometimes | Often | Routinely | Â | |
Health responsibility | |||||||||
 1. Report any unusual signs or symptoms to a physician or other health professional. | 97 (14.5) | 382 (56.9) | 152 (22.7) | 40 (6.0) | 96 (9.7) | 502 (51.0) | 275 (27.9) | 112 (11.54) | 0.001 |
 2. Read or watch TV programs about improving health. | 216 (32.2) | 323 (48.1) | 132 (19.7) | 0 | 369 (37.5) | 417 (42.3) | 183 (18.6) | 16 (1.6) | 0.001 |
 3. Question health professionals in order to understand their instructions | 114 (17.0) | 209 (31.1) | 255 (38.0) | 93 (13.9) | 141 (14.3) | 290 (29.4) | 335 (34.0) | 219 (22.2) | 0.001 |
 4. Get a second opinion when I question my health care provider’s advice. | 248 (37.0) | 285 (42.5) | 103 (15.4) | 35 (5.2) | 303 (30.8) | 404 (41.0) | 207 (21.0) | 71 (7.2) | 0.003 |
 5. Discuss my health concerns with health professionals. | 138 (20.6) | 283 (42.2) | 184 (27.4) | 66 (9.8) | 135 (13.7) | 386 (39.2) | 330 (33.5) | 134 (13.6) | 0.001 |
 6. Ask for information from health professionals about how to take good care of myself. | 224 (33.4) | 308 (45.9) | 104 (15.5) | 35 (5.2) | 286 (29.0) | 440 (44.7) | 189 (19.2) | 70 (7.1) | 0.048 |
 7. Inspect my body at least monthly for physical changes/danger signs. | 466 (69.4) | 161 (24.0) | 25 (3.7) | 19 (2.8) | 621 (63.0) | 234 (23.8) | 78 (7.9) | 52 (5.3) | 0.001 |
 8. Attend educational programs on personal health care. | 383 (57.1) | 241 (35.9) | 39 (5.8) | 8 (1.2) | 533 (54.1) | 333 (33.8) | 92 (9.3) | 27 (2.7) | 0.008 |
 9. Seek guidance or counseling when necessary. | 119 (17.7) | 280 (41.7) | 208 (31.0) | 64 (9.5) | 130 (13.2) | 386 (39.2) | 320 (32.5) | 149 (15.1) | 0.001 |
Physical Activity | |||||||||
 10. Follow a planned exercise program. | 225 (33.5) | 314 (46.8) | 69 (10.3) | 63 (9.4) | 289 (29.3) | 438 (44.5) | 136 (13.8) | 122 (12.4) | 0.019 |
 11. Exercise vigorously for 20 or more minutes at least three times a week (such as brisk walking, bicycling, aerobic dancing, using a stair climber). | 167 (24.9) | 267 (39.8) | 125 (18.6) | 112 (16.7) | 252 (25.6) | 360 (36.5) | 199 (20.2) | 174 (17.7) | 0.591 |
 12. Take part in light to moderate physical activity (such as sustained walking 30–40 min 5 or more times a week). | 184 (27.4) | 276 (41.1) | 116 (17.3) | 95 (14.2) | 289 (29.3) | 377 (38.3) | 170 (17.3) | 149 (15.1) | 0.660 |
 13. Take part in leisure-time (recreational) physical activities (such as swimming, dancing, bicycling). | 293 (43.7) | 261 (38.9) | 91 (13.6) | 26 (3.9) | 366 (37.2) | 407 (41.3) | 153 (15.5) | 59 (6.0) | 0.025 |
 14. Do stretching exercises at least 3 times per week. | 359 (53.5) | 211 (31.4) | 60 (8.9) | 40 (6.0) | 483 (49.0) | 291 (29.5) | 131 (13.3) | 80 (8.1) | 0.013 |
 15. Get exercise during usual daily activities (such as walking during lunch, using stairs instead of elevators, parting car away from destination and walking). | 145 (21.6) | 249 (37.1) | 169 (25.2) | 108 (16.1) | 213 (21.6) | 352 (35.7) | 249 (25.3) | 171 (17.4) | 0.899 |
 16. Check my pulse rate when exercising. | 369 (55.0) | 6 (0.9) | 267 (39.8) | 29 (4.3) | 484 (49.1) | 106 (10.8) | 328 (33.3) | 67 (6.8) | 0.001 |
 17. Reach my target heart rate when exercising. | 361 (53.8) | 200 (29.8) | 81 (12.1) | 29 (4.3) | 476 (48.3) | 306 (31.1) | 134 (13.6) | 69 (7.0) | 0.043 |
Eating Habits/Nutrition | |||||||||
 18. Choose a diet low in fat, saturate fat, and cholesterol. | 279 (41.6) | 262 (39.0) | 92 (13.7) | 38 (5.7) | 361 (36.6) | 389 (39.5) | 161 (16.3) | 74 (7.5) | 0.095 |
 19. Limit use of sugars and food containing sugar (sweets). | 199 (29.7) | 303 (45.2) | 124 (18.5) | 45 (6.7) | 274 (27.8) | 430 (43.7) | 207 (21.0) | 74 (7.5) | 0.509 |
 20. Eat 6–11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta each day | 171 (25.5) | 288 (42.9) | 138 (20.6) | 74 (11.0) | 271 (27.5) | 385 (39.1) | 209 (21.2) | 119 (12.1) | 0.525 |
 21. Eat 2–4 servings of fruit each day. | 198 (29.5) | 365 (54.4) | 75 (11.2) | 33 (4.9) | 299 (30.4) | 481 (48.8) | 155 (15.7) | 50 (5.1) | 0.037 |
 22. Eat 3–5 servings of vegetables each day. | 185 (27.6) | 334 (49.8) | 103 (15.4) | 49 (7.3) | 294 (29.8) | 447 (45.4) | 178 (18.1) | 66 (6.7) | 0.231 |
 23. Eat 2–3 servings of milk, yogurt or cheese each day. | 77 (11.5) | 4 (0.6) | 436 (65.0) | 154 (23.0) | 139 (14.1) | 143 (14.5) | 518 (52.6) | 185 (18.8) | 0.001 |
 24. Eat only 2–3 servings from the meat, poultry, fish, dried beans, eggs, and nuts group each day | 99 (14.8) | 7 (1.0) | 454 (67.7) | 111 (16.5) | 134 (13.6) | 141 (14.4) | 552 (56.2) | 155 (15.8) | 0.001 |
 25. Read labels to identify nutrients, fats, sodium content in packaged food. | 230 (34.3) | 245 (36.5) | 107 (15.9) | 89 (13.3) | 253 (25.7) | 341 (34.6) | 203 (20.6) | 188 (19.1) | 0.001 |
 26. Eat breakfast. | 41 (6.1) | 183 (27.3) | 150 (22.4) | 297 (44.3) | 73 (7.4) | 277 (28.1) | 244 (24.8) | 391 (39.7) | 0.254 |