Comparison of healthy lyfe style behaviors between 25-65 years old health care and non-health care workers

ABSTRACT Introduction and Aim: Being healthy is the fundamental right of every human being, and ensuring and maintaining well-being should be the primary goal of all individuals as well as healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to reveal and evaluate the healthy lifestyle behaviors and effective factors of health workers (specialist doctors, assistant doctors, nurses, midwives, etc.) and non-health workers. Material and Methods: The research was conducted as a cross-sectional, case-control study. Within the scope of the research, 230 health workers and 240 non-health workers were reached. The Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-II (HLBQ-II) consisting of 52 items in total was used in the evaluation. Number, percentage, minimum and maximum, mean, standard deviation values, chi-square test, t test, One-Way ANOVA test, and correlation analysis tests were used to evaluate the findings. The data were analysed with the SPSS 22 software. Results: It was determined that the majority of the participants among the health workers participating in the study were doctors (63,9%), and individuals who were not health workers were most frequently employed as teachers (74,2%). All sub factors of HLBQ-II scores of the non-health workers were higher than the health workers. It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition and stress management subgroups between health workers and non-health workers (respectively p=0,001, p<0,001, p<0,001, p<0,001). The HLBQ-II Total Score was also found to be significantly different between the two groups (p<0,001). A positive correlation was found between the total HLBQ-II Scale score, health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual development, interpersonal relationships and stress management in health workers and non-health workers groups (respectivelyp<0,001, p<0,001, p<0,001, p<0,001,p<0,001, p<0,001).No significant difference was found between the HLBQ-II scores of health workers according to age and occupational groups.In the non-health workers group, positive significant relationship was found between age and spiritualgrowth, interpersonalrelations, stress managementof subdimensions of HLBQ-II. A significant positive correlation was found between the participants' HLBQ-II scale scores and their sense of health. In healthcare workers, a significant negative correlation was found between their HLBQ scores and their feeling of stress. Conclusion: Although non-healthcare workers had higher HLBQ scores than non-health workers, the HLBQ scores of non-health workers were also at an average level.According to the results of this study, it has been revealed that individuals who are health workers have lower health responsibility, less physical activity, less effort to eat healthy, less successful in stress management, and lower levels of healthy living behaviors compared to non-health workers. Plans such as in-service training and smoking cessation courses should be made in order for healthcare professionals to develop healthy lifestyle behaviors.It is thought that the media has an important role in raising public awareness about healthy living. It is necessary to increase the education programs for health promotion, to include topics such as nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation and stress management widely in the media. Keywords: Healthy lifestyle behaviors, health workers, non-health workers