Class of 2007 Abstract / Objectives: To identify the characteristics shared by Arizona Health Sciences students who exercise regularly and the effects of exercise on their lives. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Three focus groups were held to collect data on the participants’ history and pattern of regular exercise, reasons for engaging in physical activity, educational background on the importance of physical activity, views on role models, and level of productivity. Demographic data were collected on age, gender, marital status, weight, and height. Results: The AHS students who participated in the focus groups had a history of regular exercise, often since childhood, an ability to adapt their schedules to make time for exercise, and the use of exercise as a recreational or social activity. Stress reduction and health benefits were major motivators for participating in regular physical activity. However, only about 50 percent of the participants saw themselves as potential role models for their patients. Conclusions: The training of pharmacy and public health students may need to be revisited to include the promotion of physical activity and the importance of serving as role models. Focusing on how regular physical activity reduces stress and improves health may be more successful marketing techniques, as all of the participants listed these benefits as important. Because the other reasons varied between men and women, the marketing strategies may need to focus on different approaches for each gender; for example, the appearance benefits for men and the sleep and socializing benefits for women.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a welfare disease increasing with such a high rate that it, in popular speech, is being called epidemic. To prevent the spread of this disease, future health care workers are in need of a deeper, science-based education. Purpose: The aim of this study is to research the knowledge about T2DM regarding risk factors, nutrition, activity and foot hygiene among public health students at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. Method: A cross-sectional study was made using a questionnaire. A convenience sampling of public health students were approached and 121 decided to participate. Results: The majority of the students knew that obesity and an unhealthy diet (containing a high amount of fat, sugar and fast food) was correlated with T2DM and associated with negative outcomes of the disease. The students were uncertain or had less knowledge that smoking is a risk factor (79%). The greater part of the participants (73%) thought that people with T2DM should let their feet air dry. 74% of the respondents underestimated the amount of time that was needed to exercise per week to achieve positive results and 63% of the students were dissatisfied with their education regarding T2DM. Conclusion: Although the students overall had good knowledge about T2DM, they also showed a lot of uncertainty and insufficient knowledge in several questions. This was especially distinguished in the questions regarding activity, foot hygiene and risk factors. / Bakgrund: Typ 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) är en välfärdssjukdom som ökar i så snabb takt att den i folkmun kallas för en epidemi. För att förhindra spridningen av sjukdomen behöver framtida vårdpersonal en djupare, evidensbaserad grundutbildning. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka kunskapen kring T2DM, med avseende på riskfaktorer, nutrition, aktivitet och fothygien bland studerande folkhälsovetare vid Thammasat University i Bangkok, Thailand. Metod: Ett bekvämlighetsurval på studerande folkhälsovetare gjordes, varav 121 av 136 studenter deltog. Enkäter användes i denna studie. Resultat: Majoriteten av eleverna visste att fetma och en ohälsosam kost (innehållande hög fetthalt, socker och snabbmat) var korrelerat med T2DM och associerat med negativa konsekvenser av sjukdomen. Majoriteten av studenterna visste inte att rökning var en riskfaktor (79%). Större delen av deltagarna (73%) tyckte att personer med T2DM skulle låta fötterna lufttorka. 74% av respondenterna underskattade mängden fysisk aktivitet som behövdes varje vecka för att uppnå positiva resultat och 63% av eleverna var missnöjda med sin utbildning avseende T2DM. Slutsats: Även om eleverna i allmänhet hade goda kunskaper om T2DM visade de också en hel del osäkerhet och otillräcklig kunskap i flera frågor. Detta särskilt i frågorna gällande aktivitet, fothygien och riskfaktorer.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Background: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome still remains the leading cause of death globally. Understanding students’ views about the risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection by exploring and describing their perceptions may help to design effective Human Immunodeficiency Virus prevention interventions. The tertiary institution environment offers a great opportunity for Human Immunodeficiency Virus high risk behaviours, including alcohol and drug abuse, unsafe sex, multiple sexual relationships, intergenerational and transactional sex. Despite the decline in the overall incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, still a significant proportion of the youth population are at risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. Objectives: The study was to explore and describe perception of risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus among students at the Institute of Development Management, Gaborone, Botswana Campus. Methodology: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study using semi-structured interviews with purposively selected second year Public Health students was conducted. Interviews were conducted using an interview guide. It was audio recorded until data saturation was reached, where eight students participated in the study. Voice recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: The findings reveals that some participants perceive themselves to be at risk of contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus, while others perceive themselves as being not at risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. Several risk factors associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, for example, alcohol and drug abuse, multiple concurrent sexual relationships, intergenerational and transactional sex are revealed as challenges. They also expressed their fears in relation to Human Immunodefiency Virus testing, pregnancy and disclosure of Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive status due to the stigma and discrimination. Conclusion: High risk behaviours leading to Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome prevalence are still common among young people, hence the need for government and all stakeholders to specifically address them by coming up with specific behavioural intervention programmes.