Knowledge and Perception of Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) is a novel metric designed to quantify the health benefits of physical activity based on individual heart rate data. Previous studies have demonstrated that maintaining a PAI score of 100 or more per week can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, enhancing overall quality of life. However, awareness and acceptance of PAI among healthcare professionals and the general public are limited. This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding PAI among medical students, who are pivotal in promoting health awareness and behaviors. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) among medical students at Lahore Medical and Dental College. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, from June 2023 to December 2023, at the Lahore College of Physical Therapy, LMDC. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was employed, resulting in a sample size of 300 participants, determined using the Taro Yamane formula with a 95% confidence interval and a 0.05 error margin. Participants included medical students aged 18-28 years who provided informed consent. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire, which was reviewed by 12 academic and 5 clinical faculty members for reliability and validity. The questionnaire, converted to a Google Form, comprised sections on general information, PAI awareness, physical activity levels, and the use of fitness trackers. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25, with categorical variables summarized as numbers and percentages, and continuous variables as means ± standard deviation. Results: Out of 300 participants, 72% were female and 28% were male, with a mean age of 21.53 ± 1.94 years. Regarding wearable devices, 45.8% used them for assessing physical activity. Awareness of PAI was low, with 23.7% familiar with it, 36% having heard of it, and 40.3% unaware. Only 11% had used PAI to track physical activity. Most students (82.8%) strongly believed in the importance of regular physical activity. The use of fitness trackers showed that 36% were currently using such devices, and among them, 63% included PAI features. However, confidence in interpreting PAI data was limited, with only 10.7% feeling very confident. Conclusion: The study revealed a significant lack of awareness regarding PAI among medical students, despite a generally positive attitude towards its potential benefits. There is a need for enhanced educational efforts to improve PAI knowledge and integration into medical curricula, addressing barriers such as device availability and data interpretation.