Levels of physical activity promotion among nursing students in Portugal

Introduction: This study examines the relevance of physical activity for health, focusing on nursing students facing challenges associated with a sedentary lifestyle and an academic workload. It delves into the influence of various factors, including age, sex, body mass index, and sedentary behavior. Objectives: This study aims to describe the levels of physical activity and physical literacy of nursing students at a nursing school in Portugal. Methodology: This study forms part of a more extensive multicenter investigation. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 84 nursing students from an institution in northern Portugal was used. Data were collected via self-report online questionnaires that assessed physical activity, sedentary behavior, body mass index, and physical literacy and measured motivation, confidence, and the relevance of physical activity. The statistical analysis employed descriptive and correlational techniques to investigate potential associations between variables, including sex and school year. Results: Most students were female and in their third year of studies. A considerable proportion of the students were observed to engage in sedentary behavior, with 66.3% exhibited a Body Mass Index within the range typically considered "normal weight" (M = 23.33; SD = 3.28), the majority of students (n = 52; 61.6%) reported engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity weekly (metabolic equivalents between 3 and 6). In contrast, their physical literacy skills were relatively high, with room for comprehension improvement. Conclusion: The results indicate that body mass index and physical literacy are decisive for promoting physical activity among nursing students, and are eminently related to the sex of the students and the curricular year in which they are enrolled. A fact that can be the basis for measures and/or programs to promote physical activity with specific determinants, which can eventually be implemented in very specific situations, given the particularities of each institution.