ABSTRACT
Avaliar o conhecimento de profissionais de saúde sobre a existência ou não de associação entre inatividade física e oito morbidades (diabetes, hipertensão arterial, aids, osteoporose, câncer de pulmão, depressão, cirrose hepática e infarto agudo do miocárdio). Foi realizado um estudo transversal em uma amostra representativa de 1.600 unidades básicas de saúde do Brasil; a população elegível incluía 1/3 de médicos, 1/3 de enfermeiros e 1/3 de agentes comunitários de saúde. A média de acertos observada foi de 6,3 questões. A proporção de profissionais que acertaram sete ou oito questões foi de 68% (IC95%: 60-75) entre os médicos, 54% (IC95%: 48-59) entre enfermeiros e 43% (IC95%: 40-55) entre agentes comunitários de saúde. O percentual de acertos dos médicos foi estatisticamente superior (p<0,001) ao dos enfermeiros e agentes comunitários de saúde, mas a proporção de acertos não diferiu entre enfermeiros e agentes comunitários (p=0,16). O percentual de acertos não variou significativamente conforme sexo, idade e nível de atividade física. Políticas públicas voltadas à educação são indispensáveis para instrumentalizar profissionais que trabalham em unidades básicas de saúde no Brasil sobre os efeitos da inatividade física sobre a saúde.
We aimed to evaluate the knowledge of health professional on the existence or not of an association between physical inactivity and eight diseases (diabetes, hypertension, aids, osteoporosis, lung cancer, depression, cirrhosis and myocardial infarction). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1,600 primary health care units in Brazil; the eligible population included 1/3 physicians, 1/3 nurses and 1/3 community health workers. On avergae, participants anweredcorreclyneraly six questions. The proportion of correct anwers was higher among physicians as compared to nurses and community health workers (p<0.001). On the other hand, nurses and community health workers were not different in terms of the prevalence of correct answers (p=0.16). The proportion of health professionals who answered correctly to seven or eight questions was 68% (95%CI: 60-75) among physicians, 54% (95%CI: 48-59) among nurses and 43% (95%CI: 40-55) among community health workers. The proportion of correct answers did not vary significantly according to sex, age or physical activity level of health professionals. Educational policies are essential for empowering health professionals who work in primary health care units on the effects of physical inactivity on health.
Subject(s)
Primary Health Care , Chronic Disease , Knowledge , Sedentary BehaviorABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between knowledge about physical activity (PA) recommendations (in terms of duration and frequency) and physical activity practice in a population-based sample of adults and adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey, conducted in Pelotas, Brazil. Participants (10+ years) were included in the sample and reported their perception about the minimum number of days and duration of PA to achieve health benefits. Those who reported PA practice ≥ 150 min/wk (adults) and ≥ 300 min/wk (adolescents) were considered active. RESULTS: The sample included 1696 adults and 399 adolescents. More than one-third (38.6%) of the adult population reported that < 150 minutes of PA per week would be sufficient to obtain health benefits. Moreover, 76.1% of the adolescents reported that < 300 minutes per week were sufficient to obtain health benefits. Among adolescents, those who were active tended to report that higher amounts of PA were needed to obtain health benefits. CONCLUSION: Despite global recognition of the role of PA for improving health, knowledge about the minimum frequency and duration for achieving health benefits is still low in Brazil, particularly among adolescents.
Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Motor Activity/physiology , Adolescent , Brazil , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Research Design , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Evaluation studies of large scale physical activity promotion programs are rare in Latin America. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between various forms of exposure to Academia da Cidade (PAC), a professionally supervised intervention in Aracaju (Brazil), and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). METHODS: A population-based study including 2267 adults was carried out. LTPA was assessed using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and a cut-off of 150 minutes per week was used in the analyses. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, having ever heard about PAC was related to an odds of 1.8 (95% CI 1.4-2.2) for reaching the 150-minutes per week LTPA threshold. Equivalent odds ratios were 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.3) for having ever seen a PAC class, 14.3 (95% CI 12.3-16.4) for current and 4.0 (95% CI 1.4-11.3) for past PAC participation. CONCLUSION: Different sources of exposure to PAC were significantly associated with LTPA, which may suggest that professionally-supervised community classes offered for free may be a successful alternative for promoting physical activity in Brazil. If PAC happens to be expanded to other Brazilian areas, intervention studies may be carried out to evaluate its effectiveness.
Subject(s)
Community Participation , Health Promotion/methods , Leisure Activities , Motor Activity , Adult , Brazil , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Guideline Adherence , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of physical activity advice, the source of the information, and the types of recommendation in a population-based sample of adults living in South Brazil. METHODS: Population-based study including 972 adults living in Pelotas, Brazil. The outcome variable was based on the following question: "Has anyone ever recommended you to practice physical activity"? If the answer was positive, we asked who was responsible for the prescription (an open question, which was categorized later) and which recommendation was done. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical activity advice was 56.2% (95% CI 52.3-60.1). Physical activity advice was mostly done by physicians (92.5%). Walking was, by far, the most frequent recommendation. Females were more likely to receive advice for physical activity practice than males (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.30-2.31). Age, economic level, body mass index and leisure-time physical activity were positively associated with physical activity advice, while self-reported health presented an inverse association with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of physical activity advice was high in this sample, suggesting that the Brazilian health system is incorporating physical activity in its routine.
Subject(s)
Directive Counseling , Information Dissemination , Motor Activity , Adult , Aged , Body Mass Index , Brazil , Confidence Intervals , Cross-Sectional Studies , Exercise , Female , Humans , Leisure Activities , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Prevalence , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Walking , Young AdultABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate public knowledge on the role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and hypertension, and the factors associated with such knowledge. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Pelotas, southern Brazil, including 972 adults aged 20 to 69 years, selected with a clustering protocol. Knowledge on the preventive and curative benefits of physical activity was higher for hypertension (87.2%) than for diabetes (47.2%). Women were more knowledgeable on the role of physical activity in preventing diabetes (PR: 1.16; 95%CI: 1.03-1.31). In terms of treatment, greater knowledge was associated with female gender, current physical activity, obesity, subjects, and higher socioeconomic status. For prevention of hypertension, greater knowledge was observed in individuals with higher socioeconomic status (PR: 1.23; 95%CI: 1.11-1.36). For treatment of hypertension, physically active and obese subjects showed greater knowledge. Subjects were generally more knowledgeable on the curative role of physical activity than on its preventive benefits. Public health efforts should aim to raise public awareness on the preventive effects of physical activity against diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic non-communicable diseases.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus/prevention & control , Exercise/physiology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hypertension/prevention & control , Motor Activity/physiology , Adult , Body Mass Index , Brazil/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Female , Health Promotion , Humans , Hypertension/therapy , Leisure Activities , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/epidemiology , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Urban Population , Young AdultABSTRACT
O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o conhecimento dos adultos de Pelotas, Sul do Brasil, sobre o papel da atividade física na prevenção e tratamento de diabetes e hipertensão arterial, e os fatores associados aos conhecimentos. Foi realizado um estudo transversal de base populacional, com amostragem por conglomerados, incluindo 972 indivíduos de 20 a 69 anos. O conhecimento dos efeitos da atividade física na prevenção e tratamento foi maior para a hipertensão (82 por cento) do que para diabetes (47,2 por cento). Para a prevenção de diabetes maiores conhecimentos se associaram ao sexo feminino (RP = 1,16; IC95 por cento: 1,03-1,31), e no tratamento além destes, indivíduos ativos, obesos e de elevado nível econômico, tiveram maior conhecimento. Na prevenção da hipertensão, elevado conhecimento associou-se ao maior nível econômico (RP = 1,23; IC95 por cento: 1,11-1,36). Quanto ao tratamento, mulheres, indivíduos ativos e obesos apresentaram maior conhecimento. Em síntese, o conhecimento sobre o papel da atividade física no tratamento de diabetes e hipertensão é maior, em comparação à prevenção; tal achado merece destaque, pois a capacidade de prevenção da atividade física não parece estar tão bem difundida em termos populacionais.
The aim of this study was to evaluate public knowledge on the role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and hypertension, and the factors associated with such knowledge. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Pelotas, southern Brazil, including 972 adults aged 20 to 69 years, selected with a clustering protocol. Knowledge on the preventive and curative benefits of physical activity was higher for hypertension (87.2 percent) than for diabetes (47.2 percent). Women were more knowledgeable on the role of physical activity in preventing diabetes (PR: 1.16; 95 percentCI: 1.03-1.31). In terms of treatment, greater knowledge was associated with female gender, current physical activity, obesity, subjects, and higher socioeconomic status. For prevention of hypertension, greater knowledge was observed in individuals with higher socioeconomic status (PR: 1.23; 95 percentCI: 1.11-1.36). For treatment of hypertension, physically active and obese subjects showed greater knowledge. Subjects were generally more knowledgeable on the curative role of physical activity than on its preventive benefits. Public health efforts should aim to raise public awareness on the preventive effects of physical activity against diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic non-communicable diseases.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Diabetes Mellitus/prevention & control , Exercise/physiology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hypertension/prevention & control , Motor Activity/physiology , Body Mass Index , Brazil/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Health Promotion , Hypertension/therapy , Leisure Activities , Obesity/epidemiology , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Urban Population , Young AdultABSTRACT
O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o conhecimento de acadêmicos de Educação Física sobre o diabetes e sua associação com a prática de atividade física e avaliar a percepção dos acadêmicos quanto à qualidade da formação para lidar com indivíduos diabéticos. Os participantes foram acadêmicos da Escola Superior de Educação Física da Universidade Federalde Pelotas. De um total de 263 acadêmicos elegíveis, 221 foram entrevistados. O percentual de acadêmicos que corretamente indicou hereditariedade, obesidade e alimentação como fatores de risco para diabetes foi elevado (>90%). Por outro lado, cerca de 1/5 dos acadêmicos não apontou corretamente a principal alteração metabólica resultante do diabetes e 14% desconheciam a associação entre prática de atividade física e diabetes. O conhecimento dosalunos tendeu a aumentar com o passar dos anos, embora os alunos do terceiro ano tenham apresentado conhecimento consistentemente superior aos do quarto ano. Pode-se concluir que o conhecimento dos acadêmicos sobre o diabetes foi satisfatório, embora alguns aspectos ainda possam ser melhorados e a maioria dos acadêmicos julgue sua formação acadêmica não adequada para lidar com indivíduos diabéticos.
The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of Physical Education students on diabetes and its association with physical activity practice and to evaluate the perception of the students of the quality of the knowledge gained at the university to deal with diabetic patients. Participants were students of the Physical Education School at the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. Out of 263 eligible students, 221 were interviewed. The percentage of students who correctly indicated genetics, obesity and diet as risk factors for diabetes was high (>90%). On the other hand, around 1/5 was not able to correctly identify the most important metabolic alteration a diabetic patients has and 14% were unaware of the association between physical activity practice and diabetes. Knowledge tended to improve with the year at the university, although third year students performed consistently better than fourth year ones. In conclusion,the knowledge of the students on diabetes and its association with physical activity was adequate,although some important aspects could be improved. In spite of the adequate knowledge, most students classified the knowledge gained at the Physical Education School inadequate for dealing with diabetic patients.
