Fayaz-Bakhsh A¹ * (MD, MSc, PhD), Khajeh- Kazemi R² (MSc), Soleymani nejad M³ (MPH), Rahimi F⁴ (MPH), Jahangiri L⁵ (MPH), Heydari S⁶ (MPH), Shams M⁷ (MD, PhD)

  ¹ Department of Health Care Management, School of Allied Medicine and Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  ² Regional Knowledge Hub for HIV/AIDS Surveillance, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 

  Research Center for Modeling in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman. Iran

  ³ Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Azad University of Masjedsoleyman, Khuzestan, Iran

  ⁴ South Tehran Health Center, Tehran, Iran

  ⁵ Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Public Health,   Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  ⁶ Deputy of Resources Development and Management, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  ⁷ Department of Public Health, School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. Yasuj, Iran

  Received: 16 Sep 2010, Accepted: 29 Jun 2011

  Abstract

  Introduction: The Internet using has become an important part of individuals, especially youth's daily life activity in recent years. Regarding changes due to using this technology, the question comes to mind is which effects internet using has on life style of its users. The aim of this study was to evaluate student’s life styles and its relationship with using the Internet.

  Methods: The students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were recruited to this cross-sectional research using multistage sampling. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire developed based on a pilot study. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Man Whitney, and kruskalwalis tests.

  Results: The results showed that more than half of the participants had unhealthy life style. Only 4.4% of the students had appropriate knowledge on the Internet's effect on their health. Most of the students (70%) believed that using internet had decreased their physical activity. About half of the students (47%) did not believe that smoking would be affected by using the Internet.

  Conclusion: Regarding the increasing pattern of the Internet using among youth and knowledge insufficiencies among them about the effect of the Internet on health, proper educational programs should be designed and implemented among youth. Moreover, effectiveness Internet-based intervention should be applied to increase knowledge students.

  Key words: I nternet, knowledge, attitude, life style, students

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Fayaz-bakhsh A, Khajeh- kazemi R, Soleymani nejad M, Rahimi F, Jahangiri L, Heydari S, et al. The Internet Using and Health: Students' Knowledge, Attitude and Lifestyle Related to the Internet. Hakim Research Journal 2011 14(2): 96- 105.

  * Corresponding Author: 4 th Floor, School of Public Health, Poursina Street, Tehran, Iran, Post Code: 14155-6446.
Tel: +98- 912- 3277218 Fax: +98- 21- 88989129 E-mail: fayaz@tums.ac.ir .