Physical activity among medical students of university sultan zainal abidin (UniSZA), Malaysia

• Main Authors: Charan Kishor, Shetty, Myat Moe, Thwe Aung, Nordin, Simbak, San San, Oo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: L Education (General); R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6431/1/FH02-FP-19-29538.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6431/

Introduction: Physical activity is considered as one of the best way by which we can keep our body active and disease free. Medical college students have to cope up with the stress and demands of the medical education. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the physical activities during the last 7 days among the medical students in UniSZA. Objectives: To describe the physical activities during the last 7 days among the medical students of UniSZA and compare them according to gender and different study years. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among all medical students (from Year 1 to Year 5) of UniSZA. Results: Of the 310 successfully distributed, a total of 238 completed questionnaires were received, indicating a response rate of 76.8%. From a total of 238 respondents, 69(29.0%) were males and 169(71.0%) were females. The ratio for gender male to female of medical students of UniSZA is 3:7. From the data, Year 1 respondents were 44 students (18.5%) out of 60 students, Year 2 were 52 students (21.8%) out of 64 students, Year 3 were 46 students (19.3%) out of 60 students, Year 4 were 40 students (16.8%) out of 62 students and 56 students (23.5%) out of 65 students for Year 5. For the past seven days, 109 students (45.8%) did vigorous activity. More than half of the students (59.2%) did moderate activity and 97 students (40.8%) did not. Meanwhile, for walking at least 10 minutes per day, 224 walked and 14 did not. As for sitting, 182 respondents chose Yes and 55 respondents chose No. Conclusion: Implication of this study suggest that within this population, in the time diary provided (last 7 days) satisfied the recommendation on physical activity by WHO. There is a need to provide an enabling environment for promoting the physical activity amongst them so that can inculcate the same in their patients.