Changes in personal health behaviors of medical students

Med Teach. 1992;14(4):321-5. doi: 10.3109/01421599209018850.

Abstract

Physicians, including medical students, seem to lead healthier lives than the general public. Whether their favorable health behavior is learned through medical education is not known. This study uses a standardized health risk assessment to compare the personal health behaviors of a single class of medical students before and after completing their clinical rotations. Our findings confirm that medical students exhibit healthier lifestyle behaviors than that of the general population, and that changes in health behaviors may evolve with training.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Clerkship*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • New York
  • Students, Medical / psychology*