Medical students and other health care professionals have substantial knowledge of the benefits of regular physical activity (PA). Furthermore, they can influence their patients using their ethical obligation to prescribe suitable exercises, moreover, having positive attitude about their lifestyle, they become role models for their patients. Physiotherapists, who are primary care practitioners, have great potential for promoting PA, however, their role is still underestimated by patients and health care professionals.
The objective of this study was to evaluate PA level in students of the Medical University of Silesia in Poland and to focus on the role of physiotherapy students in promoting physical activity.
Cross-sectional study.
The final analysis included 300 students from the schools of physiotherapy, midwifery, nursing, pharmacy, cosmetology, and medicine at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to evaluate PA level.
Physiotherapy students demonstrated the highest level of PA, as 46% reported high and 54% moderate level of PA, while none of physiotherapy students reported low PA level. The largest group of students with low PA level was observed among students from the school of medicine (26%).
The number of respondents was relatively small. The main study limitations included its cross-sectional nature and the possibility of self-report biases. Further research is warranted to expand the study nationally and determine which factors influence PA.
There was a largest group of medical students who, despite being aware of PA benefits, did not meet the recommended level of PA. Physiotherapy students are well-trained and qualified to promote healthy habits and encourage individuals to undertake regular physical activity.
Source: http://ptjournal.apta.org/cgi/content/short/ptj.20120065v1?rss=1
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento