The Student Health Service believes that prevention is as integral a component to students' health as the treatment of illness. Since 1983, the Health Iowa educational branch of the Student Health Service has been providing health education services to University of Iowa students. In an effort to follow the trends of student concerns regarding health practices and behaviors, Health Iowa conducts a survey every other year. The Health Interests and Practices survey tracks behavioral trends, such as drinking, smoking, nutrition, fitness, and sexual health issues, allowing staff to find out which health topics students are most interested in learning about. The students at The University of Iowa are not unlike students at other colleges and universities across the nation, she says.
Many students view college as a time to express their independence.
Students also find it is a time in their lives when they are faced with making many decisions not only regarding their career choices, but those that help them define who they are. Many students face difficult decisions regarding how much they should drink, when they should drink, how much sleep they really need, and if they don't smoke, should they start. Many of these decisions are driven by social influence and students' perceived need to fit in. To help facilitate healthy decision-making, a World Wide Web site allows students to get information and ask questions anonymously. The responses are posted on the website so others with similar questions will be able to access the answers.