Summary:
Background : Students are exposed to high demands, which can have an impact on their health. The COVID
19 pandemic has additionally increased the psychological burden through social isolation. A
low-threshold assessment of the individually experienced state of health as well as information on health support services is necessary to support students in their health behaviour. Method : Questionnaire survey and focus group interviews to assess the individually experienced state of health of students recruited from the CoSaMo health clinic of the Freiburg University of Applied Sciences (HEdS-FR) to develop a needs-oriented smartphone application in French and German. Results : A total of 37 out of 71 students participated in the survey (06.2021-01.2022), 15 of whom also took part in a focus group interview. The study survey had a good response rate of 52%. The
following topics were explored in more depth with the students for implementation in a smartphone application: Stress, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Substance Use, Internet Use, Sexuality, Violence, General Health and Wellbeing. Students are aware of health issues and expect a quick recording of their current health status and easily accessible information on support services. Discussion : The sample shows that stressful situations related to studies, family and finances can affect general well-being, especially when several factors come together. The psychological stress
is higher than the physical demands, which can manifest itself in the form of depressive mood. Students rely on multiple sources of income to finance their studies and living expenses. Students are challenged by their studies and their personal everyday life and are interested in quickly finding access to up-to-date health information and support that is oriented towards their individual needs. Conclusions : The smartphone application MonCoSaMo is an easy-to-use tool for recording individual health status and providing information on health support services. A broader survey is necessary to obtain more meaningful results for a larger student population.
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