Behavioral risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases in students of educational colleges medical and pedagogical profiles

Objective. To study behavioral risk factors for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases among students of medical and teacher training colleges in order to substantiate priority areas of corporate programs for health promotion and health-protective behavior among students. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional sociological survey was carried out among the 1st—4th year students of the Bryansk Basic Medical College (n=559) and the Bryansk Teacher Training College (n=1105) regarding the presence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), increased body weight (IBW), modifiable behavioral risk factors (BRF) associated with nutrition, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption. Analysis of the results was done out using SPSS 22.0 statistical package. Results. The survey response rate was 62% with age of respondents — from 14 to 24 years. Women predominated — 89.6% of medical students and 65.1% of student teachers. The presence of chronic non-communicable diseases was noted in 24.2% of respondents from the medical college and in 22.0% from the teacher training college, increased body weight — in 20.3 and 15.4%, respectively, poor nutrition — in 54.9 and 57.6%, and low physical activity — in 15.7 and 15.4%. In addition, 18.8% of medical students and 26.9% of student teachers smoked, and 23.3% and 21.3%, respectively, consumed alcohol. We found out that 21.7% of the first-year medical college students and 22.6% of the first-year teacher training college students did not have BRF, i.e. they were committed to a healthy lifestyle (HLS). In the senior years, adherence to a healthy lifestyle, compared to the early years, was lower in both the medical college (by 13.8%) and the teacher training college (by 26.5%), mainly due to an increase in smoking and alcohol consumption. Conclusions. Measures aimed at development of healthy eating habits and skills, as well as restrictive behavior regarding smoking and alcohol consumption should be priority areas of corporate programs for health promotion and shaping of health-protective behavior among students.