The relationship between healthy lifestyle behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics among employees of Ordu Training and Research Hospital

Aim: To examine the healthy lifestyle behaviors of healthcare workers and the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with these behaviors. Materials and Methods: A two-part questionnaire was administered to healthcare workers employed at Ordu Training and Research Hospital. The first part included 19 questions covering sociodemographic data and individual health behaviors. The second part consisted of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) with 52 items. Total scores and subdimension scores (health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, stress management) of the HPLP-II were compared statistically according to sociodemographic variables and certain individual health behaviors. Results: A total of 350 healthcare workers participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 35.3 years (range 18–63). Smoking prevalence among healthcare workers was 40%, and alcohol use was 16%, both considerably higher than the national averages in Turkey. When individual health behaviors were examined, it was found that women paid more attention to their health compared to men. Regarding the total HPLP-II scores, participants with limited economic status, smokers, those who did not undergo regular health screenings, those sleeping less than five hours per day, and those with late-night eating habits had significantly lower scores. Among the subdimensions, the lowest scores were observed in physical activity. Conclusion: The high rates of smoking and alcohol use among healthcare workers may reflect intense work schedules, occupational stress, and economic difficulties. Conversely, economic hardship, addictive behaviors, neglecting regular health screenings, and insufficient sleep are major factors limiting healthy lifestyle behaviors. Therefore, it is important to implement preventive and supportive measures addressing these factors.