ROLE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE LIFESTYLE OF FRENCH NURSES

Introduction

It is widely accepted that physical activity plays a crucial role in a healthy lifestyle. That is why, it is worth looking at its levels in different social and professional groups, preferably using the same assessment method, which allows for comparing the achieved PA results. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire [1] has already been recognized in the literature concerning PA because, with its help, much research has been carried out in students coming from various countries, for example, Croatia [2], Ukraine [3], Germany [4], Portugal [5], Estonia [6], the Visegrad countries [7], and Poland [8,9,10,11].
Conducting studies in medical science students is of particular importance as they may be seen as future promoters of a healthy lifestyle [12,13,14,15,16,17,18].
Thus, the research on the physical activity in nurses should also find its place in the literature referring to the IPAQ questionnaire application and results [19, 20, 21]. A closer look at physical activity in nurses from different countries might expand the knowledge about this challenging profession.

Material and methods

The following paper aims to acquire knowledge on the physical activity in nurses from the Medical Education Centre in Niort, France, and the factors that determine it.
Altogether, 298 nurses were examined in June and November 2017, but 279 answer sheets were used in the analysis, due to the lack of competence in the remaining individuals (9 persons). The nurses’ age was 21-30 years, the mean being 23.5 ± 2.4 years. The students represented all three years of study: year I (37.5%), year II (33.0%), and year III (18.6%). Most of them came from rural backgrounds − 55.6%, and 44.4% from urban areas. Further, the majority would stay in student dormitories or rented accommodation, whereas the remaining ones in family homes, i.e. 62.5%, and 37.5% respectively. 81.7% would participate in organised sports activities and, accordingly, demonstrate higher or moderate physical fitness (75.3% and 23.3% respectively). Only 4 persons (1.4% of the tested group) would exhibit a low level. As for the amount of leisure time, the majority would see it as sufficient (53.1%), 44.4% − as insufficient, and 2.5% complained of its lack (table 1).
A diagnostic survey using a questionnaire technique – the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-L) was applied as a test method and the study itself was conducted by trained academic teachers. The research sheet was supplemented with additional questions regarding age, place of origin, year of study, amount of free time, self-assessment of physical fitness, place of residence, height and weight, participation in organised sports activities as well as the performed work.

Results

Level of physical activity and its domains

The total level of physical activity was 6573.0 MET / min-week. The dominant area of activity in nurses is activity related to studying/work – 2823.2 MET, which amounted to 43.0%. Transportation physical activity, housework and in sports would share similar values, i.e. 17.0%, 19.8%, 20.3% respectively (Figure 1).
Clearly, the majority of respondents demonstrated high (75.4%), or moderate (18.9%) activity. Only 5.7% would be classified as those with low PA level (Figure 2).

Factors determining the level of physical activity.

While looking for significant relationships between variables and physical activity, the following factors were taken into account: place of residence, year of study, place of origin, amount of leisure time, self-assessment of physical fitness, BMI and participation in sports activities. As for the factors determining a higher level of total physical activity, a significant relationship was found between the place of origin, i.e. the city, the year of study (the second or third year) and the correct BMI value (Figure 3).
Once the variables significantly affecting the total level of physical activity were identified, a more detailed analysis was conducted with regard to the PA domains (Figure 4-6).

Physical activity and its domains with regard to the year of study.

The first-year students demonstrated the lowest activity (4880.1 MET) when compared to those in the second and third year (8730.3 MET and 7111.4 MET respectively). Such important unfavourable differences in the younger females were also demonstrated in their activity related to work and transportation. On the other hand, in the area of sports activity, younger students were significantly more active (Figure 4).

Physical activity and its domains with regard to the place of origin.

Significantly higher values in total physical activity in the examined respondents were demonstrated in the students coming from cities (7566.9 MET), when compared to those from the countryside (5777.9 MET), with p=0.0005, as well as in the job-related and transportation domains, with better results also visible in the respondents coming from urban areas (Figure 5).

Physical activity and its domains with regard to the BMI index.

Significantly higher total physical activity was exhibited in the students with the correct BMI (8684.7 MET), when compared to the overweight persons (6560.9 MET), i.e. p=0.0172, as well as in job-related, transportation and housework physical activities. No such differences were visible in the domain of sports (Figure 6).
The analysed variables were also related to the three levels of physical activity: high, moderate, and low. As a result of the computation, a significant dependence was found again between the place of origin and the BMI index, with better results demonstrated by those coming from the city and having correct BMI (Figure 7).

Discussion

The advantage of evaluating physical activity using IPAQ is the ability to compare the achieved results in the persons representing particular social and professional groups in different countries.
Similar studies in students are conducted in various countries [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11], including persons in medical faculties [12,13,14,15,16]. However, as far nurses are concerned, they have been examined far less frequently [19, 20, 21].
It should be stated that, generally, the French nurses’ evaluation concerning their physical activity was positive, which may result from their high awareness gained during the studies and knowledge about the role of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle. Similarly, a high physical activity was demonstrated in Polish nurses, who were also assessed with the IPAQ questionnaire [19.2].
The above hypothesis may be confirmed by the fact that the majority of the analysed factors such as the available leisure time, self-assessment of physical fitness, participation in organised sports activities, do not significantly affect greater physical activity.
What was positive about the examined nurses was their participation in a variety of organised sports activities, a correct BMI index and high self-assessment of physical fitness, which can only prove the beneficial evaluation of their active lifestyle. What was somewhat surprising was the lack of a significant relationship between high self-assessment of physical fitness and the level of physical activity, which is shown in other works as well. A higher PA level in students in later years of study seems a favourable phenomenon, which is unusual for other courses [7,8].
The fact that nurses exhibit a proper lifestyle is confirmed by the numbers, as 75.0% of them meet the recommendations concerning a high level of physical activity, and only a few persons demonstrate a low level. The two-fold analysis of the factors determining a higher level of activity confirmed the relationship between the place of origin (city, village) and the BMI index. It might result from the respondents’ greater awareness of how significant physical activity is. Higher physical activity in people with the correct BMI index, when compared to their overweight friends, may indicate that the previously expressed opinion, i.e. that it is greater awareness, including caring for one’s figure, that contributes to greater physical activity, is true.
It should be noted, however, that the high PA level visible in nurses in Poland [19,20] may be associated with an unfavourable health condition manifesting itself by ailments in the lower part of the spine.

Conclusions

The favourable data on the lifestyle of the examined French nurses should be welcome, especially those concerning their high PA level as well as the correct BMI. Such a positive evaluation of their lifestyle with regard to the role of physical activity is a good sign for the educational process in college and, at the same time, might become a good prognosis factor for the decisive role that nurses may play in promoting physical activity in their professional life.

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