Medical Student's Knowledge on Physical Activity Counseling is Associated with their Physical Activity Levels

Abstract

PURPOSE: A positive association between physical activity (PA) counseling attitudes and practices and personal behaviors has been reported among medical students. However, the role of associated medical training factors on this relationship is unclear. We explored the associations between medical training related factors, personal PA habits and attitude towards preventive PA counseling among medical students in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study ("Healthy doctor - Healthy patient" web-based questionnaire) was conducted among fifth year (n= 254, 60% female) students from 8 medical schools (78% response rate). Logistic regression analyses adjusted for gender were used to asses the associations between compliance with PA recommendations (PAR) (at least 150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous PA), attitudes towards PAC ("How relevant do you think this will be in your intended practice?; high/low relevance) and three medical training related factors: basic knowledge on PAC (health benefits and recommendations), perceived training on PAC and medical school environment emphasizing healthy PA habits and preventive medicine (all adequate/inadequate). RESULTS: The prevalence of compliance with PAR, adequate PA knowledge (PAK) and a positive attitude towards PAC were 50%, 66% and 91%, respectively. Positive associations were found between PAK and PA compliance (OR 1.88, CI 1.08 - 3.25, p 0.024), between perception of a school environment promoting PA and a perception of adequate training on PA (OR 3.09, IC 1.77 - 5.40, p <0.0001), and between perception of adequate training on PA and perception of having a medical school curriculum with an emphasis on preventive medicine (OR 3.08, IC 1.74 - 5.45, p <0.0001). A Non significant and negative association was found between PAK and a favourable attitude towards PAC (OR 0.7, CI 0.26 - 1.86, 0.47), as well as a non significant but positive pattern of compliance with PAR and a favourable attitude towards PAC (OR 1.73, CI 0.6 - 4.4, p 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Among Colombian medical students PAK is associated with a higher compliance with PAR and perception of a school environment promoting PA was related to perceived adequacy of training on PA. Medical school curriculum interventions could be a potential strategy to increase medical students PA compliance.