A physical activity assessment of Wroclaw Medical University students with IPAQ – long questionnaire: a cross sectional study

Background. Polish society is characterized with low physical activity. Medical University students, as future doctors, should not only understand the importance of physical activity, but also do all they can to actively propagate it. Objectives. The aim of conducted research was to assess the level of physical activity among students of the final study year of Medical and Dentistry Faculties of Wroclaw Medical University.

Material and methods. Study group included 211 people. In term of age and gender students of both faculties were a homogenous group. The study was conducted in summer term of 2011/2012 academic year, auditory method, ensuring anonymity. The study tool was International Questioner of Physical Activity (IPAQ) – long form. Based on MET s values the authors distinguished three levels of total physical activity – intense, moderate and low.

Results. The level of students’ physical activity is comparable between the faculties with slightly higher values for students of Dentistry Faculty. Distributions of three levels of physical activity were similar between the faculties.

Conclusions. The present study showed a need of health promotion in contests of physical activity among students of both faculties. The lowest activity of them (both male and female) is in the domain of work-related, during academic year. It creates a need for modifications of the study curriculum by adding additional sport classes and promoting attitudes of undertaking physical activity during other than study related activities.