Prevalence of Physical Activity Among Healthcare Students in King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An Observational Study

Abstract

Background and Objective Physical inactivity is 1 of the most important cardiovascular risk factors causing higher morbidity and mortality rate worldwide. Thus, the promotion of physical activity (PA) is 1 of the fundamental pillars in the primary prevention of heart disease. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of Physical Activity among healthcare Students in the Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. Methods An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study using paper-based printed questionnaires was conducted among Emergency medical students (EMS) from the Prince Sultan College for Emergency Medical Services King Saud University. To evaluate the physical activity, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (16-items) developed by the World health organization was used. The questionnaires talk about activity at work (6 items), travel to and from places (3-items), recreational activities (6- items), and sedentary behavior (1-item). Both binary answers (Yes\No) and continuous scales were used to collect the data. Data were descriptively analyzed using a statistical package for social science version 26 (SPSS). Results The prevalence of PA among students was 69.9% (n = 123). The most common type of physical activity was walking, accounted for 51.7% (n = 91), followed by Gym/bodybuilding 25% (n = 44), running 24.4% (n = 43). A total of 7.16 mean hours (SD = 11.23) were spent by students doing vigorous-intensity activities on a typical day, while 4.93(SD = 8.84) of mean hours were spent on moderate-intensity activities. Additionally, more than half of the students 55.7% (n = 98) performed vigorous-intensity sports, fitness, or recreational activities that cause large increases in breathing or heart rate (for at least 10 minutes continuously). The mean time spent by the students in this study performing vigorous-intensity sports, and fitness activity were 4.60(SD = 10.22) mean hours per day. The sedentary behavior, like constant sitting, was reported to be 7.33 (SD = 4.24) mean hours per day. Conclusion In conclusion, about 3 in ten EMS students are physically inactive, which could be due to study-related actions. Future research among undergraduates should focus on approaches to increase PA is needed.

Physical activity levels among undergraduate students at the College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh: A prevalence study

“…Thus, keeping an adequate amount of physical exercise and decreasing sedentary time can be crucial in aiding individuals in coping with a significant life event, especially in the case of repeated lockdowns due to a pandemic outbreak. [28] A recent study [16] that examined the prevalence of physical activity among emergency medical students at the Prince Sultan College for Emergency Medical Services at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reported findings that were not similar to those of this study. The findings showed that almost 70% of their students (n = 123) engaged in physical activity, with running coming in third, followed by gym or bodybuilding.…”

“…Recent studies used the same questionnaire and established reliability with Cronbach Alpha value of 0.85. [10,16] Physical activity intensity is measured in terms of metaphorical equivalents (MET). The term "MET" denotes the quantity of energy expended while one is still, and it is equivalent to 1 kcal/kg/ hour of calorie intake.…”

“…By examining the physical activity patterns of these students, we can gain Research on healthcare students' views toward physical activity is, however, scarce. [16] Thus, this study sought to evaluate the prevalence of physical activity and determine the reason for being physically inactive among students and interns in departments of the College of Applied Medical Sciences (CAMS) at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, promoting physical activity among undergraduate students can contribute to improved health and academic outcomes and the development of a healthier and more active future healthcare workforce.…”

Patterns of Physical Activity and its Association with Gender and Academic Year Among Undergraduate Medical Students

“…19,21 In our study, the median sitting time was 3480 minutes/ week (or 8.29 hours/day), which was higher than that reported among medical students in Karnataka (2044 minutes/week) and Emergency medical service students in Saudi Arabia (3078.6 minutes/week). 21,24 However, medical students in North India have much higher values of 3696 minutes/week. 25 Excessive sitting time has been linked to a higher risk of allcause mortality and major cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure.…”

Saudi Adults’ Understanding and Views of Weight Management Practices and Obesity

“…On the other hand, it is widely documented that sedentary behavior is associated with people with overweight and obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. 49 Therefore, it is crucial to promote physical activity, given the links in the literature between sedentary lifestyles and poor health outcomes. [50][51][52] Furthermore, public health campaigns are an effective way of raising awareness of the value of physical activity in battling and preventing various weight-related diseases and discouraging sedentary behavior.…”