RESUMO
PURPOSE: To understand awareness, attitude and knowledge levels of muscle health of adults over 18 years old. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study using questionnaires. A total of 401 questionnaires were included for final analysis. Mean and standard deviation of the continuous variables were analyzed and frequency analysis of categorical variables was performed. To identify differences according to general characteristics, t-test was used. RESULTS: Awareness scores about the importance of muscle health and exercises were 8.3 and 13.0, respectively. Attitude score and knowledge score were 12.4 and 15.0, respectively. There were differences in attitude toward muscle health according to gender, age, physical activity, and diet habits. However, there was no difference in attitude toward muscle health according to educational level, smoking, drinking, or sleeping. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to seek a strategy to improve awareness and attitude toward muscle health based on knowledge, not merely to raise knowledge level about muscle health. Since nurses play a central role in health promotion and disease prevention, they should also play an important role in strategic development and application of intervention.