Knowledge, Attitude And Practices On Physical Activities Among Health Care Providers Of A Medical College In Haryana

Abstract

Introduction: Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally. For non-communicable diseases, physical inactivity is one of the main modifiable behavioural hazards for mortality as by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Objective : To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding physical activities among healthcare providers (HCP) in Haryana.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to March 2022 among health care providers working in a tertiary care institute of Haryana. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed by using a combination of descriptive and statistical inference. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results:  In this study, 405 health care providers answered to the questionnaire.  Among them majority of the participants were female (60%) and Hindu (83.70%) and educated above graduation (73.83%).  Mean age of study participants was 27.21 ± 8.182 years, mean knowledge score was 8.676, mean attitude score was 27.28, mean practice score was 16.84. The majority of the study participants(n=385;95%) displayed excellent and good knowledge of physical activity, (n=389;96%) exhibited good attitude towards physical activity, (n=327,80.74%) exhibited satisfactory practices responses towards physical activity.

Conclusion: The majority of study participants displayed excellent knowledge, good knowledge and good attitude toward physical activity, however only 50% participants engaged in practice of any type of physical activity. The practice of physical activity of employees with good knowledge and attitude can be enhanced by providing suitable environment and time.