Physical activity assessment and quality of life in nursing

Abstract

Objective: evaluate the level of physical activity, body mass index and quality of life of nursing students and nurses in Rio Grande do Sul. Method: this was a cross-sectional study, with application of digital questionnaires for anamnesis and for survey of the level of physical activity, by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and of the quality of life, by means of the Short Form-36. Data were collected and analyzed by SurveyMonkey and SPSS software (Mann-Whitney and chi-square test). Results: the results of the physical activity questionnaire showed that a total of 22 (25%) individuals had insufficient level of physical activity, 33 (37%) were sufficiently active and 34 (38%) were very active. The body mass index of the nurses and students had a mean of 24.7 (22-29) kg/m2. Evaluating the quality of life according to the domains of the questionnaire, it was observed that the nurses and academics had high functional capacity (90% of the maximum), but the other domains of quality of life presented values below 75% of the maximum possible. Conclusion: most nurses and students have satisfactory levels of physical activity, body mass index within the recommended parameters and partially adequate quality of life. Descriptors: Quality of life. Nursing. Exercise. Body mass index. RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o nível de atividade física, índice de massa corporal e a qualidade de vida dos acadêmicos de enfermagem e enfermeiros do Rio Grande do Sul. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal, com aplicação de questionários digitais de anamnese e para levantamento do nível de atividade física, pelo International Physical Activity Questionnaire, e da qualidade de vida, por meio do Short Form-36. Os dados foram coletados e analisados pelos softwares SurveyMonkey e SPSS (teste de Mann-Whitney e qui-quadrado). Resultados: os resultados do questionário de atividade física mostraram que um total de 22 (25%) indivíduos apresentava nível de atividade física insuficiente, 33 (37%) eram suficientemente ativos e 34 (38%) muito ativos. O índice de massa corporal dos enfermeiros e acadêmicos apresentou uma média de 24,7 (22-29) kg/m2. Avaliando a qualidade de vida segundo os domínios do questionário, observou-se que os enfermeiros e acadêmicos apresentam alta capacidade funcional (90% do máximo), porém os demais domínios da qualidade de vida apresentam-se com valores abaixo de 75% do máximo possível. Conclusão: a maioria dos enfermeiros e acadêmicos possuem níveis satisfatórios de atividade física, índice de massa corporal dentro dos parâmetros recomendados e qualidade de vida parcialmente adequada. Descritores: Qualidade de vida. Enfermagem. Exercício físico. Índice de massa corporal. RESUMÉN Objetivo: evaluar el nivel de actividad física, índice de massa corporal y calidad de vida de estudiantes de enfermería y enfermeros en Rio Grande do Sul. Método: este es un estudio transversal, con la aplicación de cuestionarios digitales de anamnesis y relevar el nivel de actividad física, mediante el International Physical Activity Questionnaire, y de calidad de vida, mediante el Short Form-36. Los datos fueron recolectados y analizados por los softwares SurveyMonkey y SPSS (prueba de MannWhitney y de Chi-cuadrado). Resultados: los resultados del cuestionario de actividad física mostraron que un total de 22 (25%) individuos tenían un nivel insuficiente de actividad física, 33 (37%) eran suficientemente activos y 34 (38%) eran muy activos. El índice de masa corporal de enfermeros y académicos mostró un promedio de 24,7 (22-29) kg/m2. Evaluando la calidad de vida según los dominios del cuestionario, se observó que enfermeros y académicos tienen alta capacidad funcional (90% del máximo), sin embargo los demás dominios de calidad de vida se presentan con valores por debajo del 75% del máximo posible. Conclusión: la mayoría de enfermeros y académicos tienen niveles satisfactorios de actividad física, índice de masa corporal dentro de los parâmetros recomendados y calidad de vida parcialmente adecuada. Descriptores: Calidad de vida. Enfermería. Ejercicio físico. Índice de masa corporal. ISSN: 2238-7234 Camargo JF, et al. Physical activity assessment.. 2 English Rev Enferm UFPI. 2021 10:e879. DOI: 10.26694/reufpi.v10i1.879 INTRODCTION Sufficient levels of physical activity (PA) are part of desirable health behaviors, in addition to having the potential for favorable modifications of several physiological parameters, and bringing a more positive perception of quality of life. PA is considered a low-cost tool, and is characterized as any type of body movement in which energy expenditure occurs, including activities practiced at work, commuting, performing household chores and leisure activities differing from physical exercise, which is characterized by being planned, repetitive, and aimed at improving physical fitness and muscle strength. Physical inactivity increases the risk of many chronic diseases, and an increase in their prevalence has been observed over the last 5 decades. The adoption of higher levels of physical activity may bring benefits to health, acting preventively on risk factors for conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases, as well as serving as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of various health conditions. In addition, exercising has a positive effect on a large number of different aspects of health, such as sleep quality, cognition, and anxiety symptoms, and may be considered a key component in population health. In turn, quality of life (QoL) is subjective, comprising the individual s perception of his insertion in life, culture, and his values in relation to his goals, expectations, standards, and concerns, besides involving spiritual, physical, mental, psychological, and emotional well-being, social relationships, health, and education, among others. Many factors may interfere in the quality of life of nursing professionals, such as low salaries, accumulation of activities, precarious working conditions and little time for leisure, as well as work characteristics of each institution, modalities of temporary or permanent work contracts, as well as the format of extensive work shifts. Interestingly, specifically within undergraduate students, PA performance has a positive impact on quality of life. However, only some types of PA performed by college students show a positive relationship with quality of life, such as household chores, professional activity and activities during transportation. Surprisingly, no relationship was found between leisure activities and quality of life, because some people may not associate PA with pleasurable situations. Regarding nursing professionals, it is important that they maintain an adequate level of PA, because a low level can directly influence the health care provided. (12) Another factor to be highlighted is the fact that during the nursing undergraduate period, weight gain in undergraduate students can be observed, which tends to generate damages to health during and after the course completion, since the high demands of the area hinder the practice of physical activities. The increase in the prevalence of overweight over the years is observed among college men and women, and may be due to inappropriate health behaviors during graduation. Although nursing professionals take care of other people s health, it is also important to have responsibility for one s own health, so it is essential that students and nurses are willing to maintain an adequate quality of life and level of PA, avoiding shortand long-term damage resulting from inadequacy, such as the development of overweight and obesity. Since there are no data available in the literature on physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and QoL of nurses and nursing students in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of PA, BMI, and the QoL of nursing students and nurses in Rio Grande do Sul.