Does familial history of cancer affect the general health conditions and healthy lifestyle behavior of nursing and midwifery students?

Abstract

Aim: This study was performed with the aim of determining the effect of status regarding having a cancer patient in the family to the general health condition and healthy lifestyle behavior of nursing and midwifery students. Method: A total of 713 students participated in the comparative and descriptive study. Data was collected using the student identification form, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior ScaleII. Results: Among the students, 23.7% had a cancer patient in their family, and those students were found to think they carried a higher risk for cancer (p<0.01). It was determined that the general health statuses of the students with cancer patients in their families were affected on a higher level, although this difference was not statistically meaningful (p>0.05). Additionally, the health responsibility and interpersonal relationships score averages, as well as the total scores of the students who had a cancer patient in their family were found to be higher compared to the students who didn’t (p<0.05). In the study, status regarding considering oneself under risk of cancer was found to affect general health negatively (p<0.01), and age and education level was found to positively affect healthy lifestyle behavior (p<0.05). Conclusion: Status regarding having a cancer patient in the family was found to not affect general health status and affect healthy lifestyle behavior positively in nursing and midwifery students.