The data in this article were obtained from a survey of the attitudes and the actual practice of health care among nursing students in Kwangju, Jeonnam, Korea. The survey was carried out during the period of Decemder 1 through 10, 1981. In total, ninety-three female students responded to the questionaire.
Results of the survey are :
1. Parasite Control
65.5% of the students were planning to take anthelmintics twice a year, but only 29.0% made it an actual practice when deemed necessary. 46.2% planned to have a stool examination once a year, but in actual practice, 45.2% did not have the test. The results also show that despite their positive attitudes towards parasite control, they did not actually practice it, mostly(61.0%) due to negligence.
2. Dental Care
For brushing teeth, the highest percentage (60.2%) of students had the attitudes that brushing three times a day was good, but twice a day was the practice with 62.4% of them. For daily brushing, the highest rated time for brushing was after meals, it was 79.6% in attitudes and 63.4% in practice. For frequency of seeing a dentist, the highest rate of regular consultation was 90.3% in attitudes, and in practice, 54.8% only when necessary. These results show that despite their attitudes, most subjects did not actually practice sound dental hygiene.
3. Smoking
Opposite results were obtaindd for smoking with 54.8% opposed to smoking and as high as 93.5% not smoking in practice.
4. Drinking
In attitudes 40.9% approved, but in actual practice, 49.5% did not drink at all. In general, they opposed drinking inconsistent with 40.9%.
5. Frequency of X-ray examinations
The need for a chest X-ray once a year was held by 79.5%, and in practice, 62.2% had an X-ray taken. The reason for not getting X-rays was that 71.4% of the subjects were either negligent, or felt no need for it.
6. Frequency of Vaccination
In attitude, 84.9% considered vaccination necessary for good health, but in practice, 65.6% took them only when it was necessary. The reason was that 71.9% were either negligent, or were not required to be vaccinated.
7. Usage of Medical Care Facilities
Initial treatment of illness in an early stage was sought by 44.1% of those surveyed, and the medical care was rendered by a clinic or hospital for 61.2%. 53.8% were advised directly by pharmacists to take medication. Medical care decisions were made with parents in 67.7% of the subjects.
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