Author/Editor     Klemenc-Ketiš, Zalika; Hladnik, Žiga; Rotar-Pavlič, Danica; Post, Mieke; Kersnik, Janko
Title     Self-reported chronic conditions in student population in Slovenia
Translated title     Prisotnost kroničnih bolezni pri slovenskih študentih
Type     članek
Source     Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.     Letnik 79, št. 1
Publication year     2010
Volume     str. 31-41
Language     eng
Abstract     Purpose/Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to determine the prevalence of chronic diseases in a student population in Slovenia, (2) to determine the eff ects of chronic diseases on the use of health services. Methods: A cross-sectional web-survey among university students in Ljubljana and Maribor, Slovenia took place in March and April 2008. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA),and chi-square test, t-test and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: Th e prevalence of chronic diseases in the student population was 40.3 %. Th e most common chronic diseases were allergies (excluding hay fever) (14.9 %), hay fever (11.4 %), followed by skin diseases (9.2 %) and anxiety (5.3 %). Both high blood pressure and asthma had a higher prevalence in men than in women (p < 0.001 and p = 0.023, respectively). Students with chronic conditions less oft en thought that they can infl uence their own health by self-treatment, experienced stress in the previous week, more likely visited or contacted his/her personal doctor in the past year, more likely purchased medications for self-treatment from a pharmacist in the past year, were more aware of the facts that self-treatment may hide the symptoms and signs of illness to such extent that the doctor may not be able to recognize it or overlook it completely. Conclusion: A greater awareness of the prevalence and impact of chronic diseases in students is warranted and the existing interventions should be changed in order to achieve a better life quality of university students.
Descriptors     STUDENTS
CHRONIC DISEASE
PREVALENCE
SELF CARE
QUESTIONNAIRES
QUALITY OF LIFE
CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES
SLOVENIA