Physical inactivity among Egyptian and Saudi medical students

AMAÇ: Geleceğin doktorları olan tıp öğrencilerinin fiziksel aktivite ve hastaların geleceklerine etkisi hakkında bilgilendirilmiş oldukları kabul edilir. Bu çalışma, bir Mısırlı ve Suudi tıp öğrencileri örneğinde fiziksel aktivite paternleri, fiziksel inaktivite belirleyicileri ve algılanan engelleri tanımlamayı amaçlamaktadır. YÖNTEM: Kesitsel, karşılaştırmalı bir çalışma 319 Mısırlı ve 297 Suudi tıp öğrenci arasında uygulandı. Veriler IPAQ’in veri hazırlama ve analiz rehberlerine uygun analiz edildi. Algılanan engeller ve potansiyel kazançlar rapor edildi. BULGULAR: Fiziksel inaktivite Suudi tıp öğrencilerinde Mısırlılara göre anlamlı düzeyde yüksekti (Sırasıyla %41,1’e karşı %15,4). Lojistik regresyon analizi, fiziksel naktivitenin belirleyicilerinin spor kulubü üyesi olmama (OR=4,8), özel araba kullanımı (OR=2,3), annesinin ev hanımı olması (OR=2,3), anne eğitiminin ortaokuldan az olması (OR=2,1), aile büyüklüğünün 6 üstü olması (OR=2.0) ve son olarak Suudi köken (OR=2,86). Fiziksel aktivite için en sık algılanan engeller, yoğun programa bağlı zaman yetersizliği ve ulaşılabilir, uygun spor alanlarının yetersizliğidir. Öğrencilerin %70’den fazlası fiziksel aktivitenin sağlığı yükseltilmeye ve sürdürmeye etki ettiğini algılamaktadır. SONUÇ: Zaman ve erişimin, tıp öğrencilerinin egzersiz yapmalarındaki ana engeller olması nedeniyle, üniversiteler içindeki, serbest saatlerde spor yapılabilecek ücretsiz oyun alanlarının, öğrencilerin fiziksel aktivitelerini arttıracağına inanıyoruz.

[Mısır ve Suudi Tıp öğrencilerinde fiziksel inaktivite]

AIM: Medical students, the future doctors, were presumed to be knowledgeable about physical activity and would have future influence on their patients. This study aims to describe the pattern of physical activity, predictors of physical inactivity and perceived barriers to and benefits of physical activity among a sample of Egyptian and Saudi medical students. METHOD: A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out on 319 Egyptian and 297 Saudi medical students. The long form of the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to measure physical activity. Data was analyzed according to the guidelines for data processing and analysis of the IPAQ. Perceived barriers to and potential benefits of physical activity were reported. RESULTS: Physical inactivity was significantly higher among Saudi than Egyptian medical students (41.1% versus 15.4%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent predictors of physical inactivity were non-membership in sports clubs (OR=4.8) and use of private cars for transportation (OR=2.3), housewife mother (OR=2.3), less than secondary educated mother (OR=2.1), family size less than 6 members (OR=2.0) and lastly Saudi nationality (OR=2.86). The most frequent barriers to physical activity are time limitation due to busy study schedule and lack of accessible and suitable sporting places. More than 70% of students perceived that physical activity promotes and maintains health. CONCLUSIONS: Because time and access are key barriers to medical student exercise, we believe that provision of free playgrounds in the college to practice sports during free times will promote physical activity in students.

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