¹ Department of Nursing, Baskent University Faculty of Health Sciences, Bağlıca Kampüsü Fatih Sultan Mahallesi, Eskişehir Yolu 18.km TR, 06790, Etimesgut, Ankara, Turkey, bcevik@baskent.edu.tr

² Baskent University Vocational Health School Bağlıca Kampüsü Fatih Sultan Mahallesi, Eskişehir Yolu 18.km TR, 06790, Etimesgut, Ankara, Turkey, gturgay@baskent.edu.tr

³ Department of Nursing, Baskent University Faculty of Health Sciences, Bağlıca Kampüsü Fatih Sultan Mahallesi, Eskişehir Yolu 18.km TR, 06790, Etimesgut, Ankara, Turkey, skav@baskent.edu.tr

Corresponding author: 

Banu Cevik, Baskent University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing

Bağlıca Kampüsü Fatih Sultan Mahallesi

Eskişehir Yolu 18.km TR 06790

Etimesgut/ Ankara / Turkey

Email: bcevik@baskent.edu.tr

Mobile phone: +90 537 0547302

Abstract 

Background: Encouraging healthy behavior in student’s nursing education is imperative because leveraging technology like mobile applications can facilitate behavior change and improve healthy lifestyles. The purpose of this study is to determine the healthy lifestyle behaviors and the use of mobile health applications among nursing students.

Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The sample consisted of 101 nursing students across the four-year Bachelor of Nursing program in a foundation university in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected using a “Nursing Student Information Form”, and “Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II)”.

Results: The vast majority did not actively engage in health-risk behaviors. The mean score of the students’ HPLP-II scale is 130.69±19.22. Among subscales, the highest score (27.10±4.58) is in interpersonal relations, and the lowest score in physical activity (19.19±5.23). Most nursing students reported owning a smartphone, having constant internet access, using mobile applications. Students, users of mobile health applications showed a significantly higher score on the interpersonal relations subscale score (p=0.04). However, no significant relation was found between nursing students’ perception of mobile health applications and the mean HPLP II scale and subscale scores (P>0.05).

Conclusions: The healthy lifestyle behaviors are moderate and the majority of them use mobile health applications in everyday life. The average score of the physical activity is the lowest, suggesting that the students should be motivated to practice physical exercise. Mobile health applications to promote a healthy lifestyle can be included in the nursing curriculum.