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A. Banson1, E. Duah1
1University of Health and Allied Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ho, Ghana
Background: Low levels of physical activity in universities have been reported, attributable to the sedentary nature of academic work. Sedentary behaviour increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases. It is also reported that perception of levels of physical activity and sitting time are often understated by many persons. However, existing studies often assess physical activity using self-reported tools alone, which may not provide accurate evidence.
Purpose: To determine physical activity knowledge and practice among lecturers and administrative staff of a Ghanaian university using self-reported and objective measures. A secondary aim is to compare participants’ step counts to standard recommended levels.
Methods: This was an observational study conducted on consenting lecturers and administrative staff of the university. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Demographic details and data on knowledge level of physical activity, reported working hours were collected using a designed questionnaire. Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ) was used to measure participants’ self-reported physical activity. Twelve participants, nine administrators and six teaching staff consented to undergo objective determination of physical activity levels. Each wore a pedometer for a week and logged in their daily step count and calories burned per day on a sheet provided by the researchers. Demographic details, responses regarding knowledge of physical activity as well OSPAQ responses were collated and described in frequency tables and charts. Mean daily step counts were determined per participant and compared with World Health Organization recommended values.
Results: Complete data was obtained for 60 out of 72 workers with a mean age of 31.8 years. There were 44 men (73.3%), 21(35.0%) teaching staff, 31(51.6%) administrative staff and 8(13.3%) who had both administrative and teaching roles. Reported working duration was 8.2 hours (SD=1.471). All participants filled the questionnaires. Although, participants largely knew about examples of physical activities, others considered sitting(55%) and sleeping(55%) to be physical activities. 47 reported having leisure activities however the most common (28.3%) of these was reading. Only 10(16.7%) reported to play football whilst 11(18.3%) reported weight training. OSPAQ revealed that all participants had spent < 8% of their time in physically demanding work the previous week. Administrative staff spent 60.9% of their time sitting as compared to the 37.4% (teaching) and 39.6% (both teaching and administrative). None of the 12 participants met the WHO recommended 10,000 daily step count. The most active participant took an average of 9211.80 steps which is ‘somewhat active’. Aside from 3 ‘low active’ workers, the rest all fell in the ‘sedentary’ category.
Conclusion(s): University teachers and administrative staff do not meet physical activity recommendations. They were found to sit for long periods of time at work and engaged in very limited physically demanding activities outside of work. Education is needed to improve practical knowledge about physical activity for this group. Future studies can incorporate a larger sample number and explore barriers to activity.
Implications: Physiotherapists should target this group of persons for physical activity promotion outreach programmes and consider this a risk group for non-communicable diseases.
Funding, acknowledgements: None
Keywords: university workers, physical activity, sedentary behaviour
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Health and Allied Sciences
Committee: Research and Ethics committee
Ethics number: UHAS-REC A.6[130] 19-20
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
