Thiago Terra Borges

Conhecimento de adultos sobre o papel da atividade física na prevenção e tratamento de diabetes e hipertensão: estudo de base populacional no Sul do Brasil

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.

Conhecimento sobre fatores de risco para doenças crônicas: estudo de base populacional

The aim of the present study was to evaluate public awareness of the association between four behavioral factors (sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol abuse, and inadequate diet) and eight diseases (diabetes, hypertension, AIDS, osteoporosis, lung cancer, depression, liver cirrhosis, and acute myocardial infarction). We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study including 2,096 individuals 10 years or older. A random clustered sampling strategy was used. For each behavioral factor, a knowledge score was constructed, ranging from zero to eight points. The highest mean score was observed for inadequate diet (5.3), followed by smoking (5.1), sedentary lifestyle (4.7), and alcohol abuse (4.5). Overall, higher knowledge scores were observed among people with high socioeconomic status and more schooling, and in intermediate age groups. Government health promotion strategies are needed to raise public awareness of risk factors for chronic diseases.

Association Between Knowledge and Practice in the Field of Physical Activity and Health: A Population-Based Study.

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.