Original Research
Level of physical activity of health professionals in a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Submitted: 11 February 2015 | Published: 31 August 2015
About the author(s)
Siyabonga H. Kunene, Department of Physiotherapy, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, South AfricaNomathemba P. Taukobong, Department of Physiotherapy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), South Africa
Abstract
Object: The purpose of the present study was to ascertain the level of physical activity of health professionals at Estcourt Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Method: A cross-sectional survey of 109 health professionals was conducted over a period of three consecutive weeks in 2012. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and other related data such as socio-demographic characteristics was used to collect data. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine relationships between variables. An analysis guide was used to determine the level of physical activity with reference to the GPAQ guidelines recommended by the Word Health Organization using the metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-minutes per week indicators.
Results: The overall level of physical activity was: 31% of participants were high, with METminutes/week ≥ 3000; 29% were moderate, with MET-minutes/week ≥ 600; and 40% were low, with MET-minutes/week < 600. Although black women predominantly reported low levels of physical activity, age was found to be significantly related to the level of physical activity (p = 0.000, r = -0.637).
Conclusion: An intervention to promote physical activity amongst health professionals is essential to promote healthy living.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 6019Total article views: 10448
Crossref Citations
1. Level of Physical Activity and Its Associated Factors among Primary Healthcare Workers in Perak, Malaysia
Hazizi Abu Saad, Pei Kit Low, Rosita Jamaluddin, Huei Phing Chee
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 17 issue: 16 first page: 5947 year: 2020
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17165947
2. Pattern and Correlates of Physical Activity Among Nurses from Tertiary Care Hospital
Danica Da Silva, Supriya S Patil, Prakash M Durgawale, Satish R Patil
International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases vol: 12 issue: 3 first page: 206 year: 2022
doi: 10.4103/ijnpnd.ijnpnd_30_22
3. Prevalence of Transaminitis and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Among Young Indian Adults—A Population-Based Study
Abilash Nair, Jabbar Puthiyaveettil Khadar, Archana Mohan Preetha, Jayakumari Chellamma, Krishnadas Devadas, Tanvir Kaur Gandhi, Bipin K. Gopal, Sreejith Babu U.S., Amal Kingsley, Anish Thekkumkara Surendran Nair, Ramesh Gomez, Praveen G, Ajosh Thambi T.S., Sumitha N.
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology vol: 15 issue: 3 first page: 102466 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2024.102466
4. The rate of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases among mid-level medical staff in the Russian Federation in case of the Tomsk Region
O. S. Kobyakova, I. A. Deev, E. S. Kulikov, A. A. Almikeeva, I. D. Pimenov, E. A. Starovoytova, T. A. Zagromova, M. A. Balaganskaya
Profilakticheskaya meditsina vol: 22 issue: 3 first page: 31 year: 2019
doi: 10.17116/profmed20192203131
5. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of hospital-based staff regarding physical activity at a private hospital in Johannesburg
Yurisha Ramautar, Boikhutso Tlou, Thembelihle P. Dlungwane
South African Family Practice vol: 63 issue: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.4102/safp.v63i1.5131
6. Dietary habits among health professionals working in a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Siyabonga H. Kunene, Nomathemba P. Taukobong
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine vol: 9 issue: 1 year: 2017
doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v9i1.1364
7. Factors associated with physical activity amongst patients with hypertension in two community health centres in uMgungundlovu health district, KwaZulu-Natal, 2018
SW Mbambo, B Tlou, TP Dlungwane
South African Family Practice vol: 61 issue: 6 first page: 234 year: 2019
doi: 10.1080/20786190.2019.1664085
8. A Comparative Study of Physical Activity Levels Between Rural and Urban Settings in Zimbabwe
Norman Manyeruke, Kerry Vermaak, Nicholas Mudonhi, Wilfred Njabulo Nunu
Health Services Insights vol: 18 year: 2025
doi: 10.1177/11786329251319203
9. The frequency of risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases at medical stuff of the Tomsk region
O.S. Kobyakova, E.S. Kulikov, A.A. Almikeyeva, I.A. Deev, D.S. Tyufilin, N.P. Garaganeeva, E.A. Starovoitova, T.A. Zagromova, M.A. Balaganskaya, N.A. Kirillova
Profilakticheskaya meditsina vol: 23 issue: 3 first page: 81 year: 2020
doi: 10.17116/profmed20202303181
10. Personal physical activity and physical activity counselling among primary healthcare providers in Nigeria primary healthcare centres
Omowonuola Olubukola Sonibare, Temitope Elizabeth Oyeleye, Ayodeji Oluwaseun Ogungbemi, Akindele Amos Ajayi, Babatunde Adeola Afolabi, Muritala Adewale Ibrahim, Azeez Oyemomi Ibrahim
International Journal of Health Promotion and Education first page: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1080/14635240.2024.2438036
11. Inactividad física en docentes de una facultad de salud
Maicol Garces Pareja, Cinthya Lezcano Aguirre, Karol Vanessa Hernández García, Diana Isabel Muñoz Rodríguez
Revista CES Salud Pública y Epidemiología vol: 1 issue: 2 first page: 32 year: 2023
doi: 10.21615/cesspe.6872
12. Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Motivation to Exercise: A Cross-Sectional Study in Healthcare Professionals
José Miguel Fernandes, Joana Moreno
Portuguese Journal of Public Health vol: 43 issue: 3 first page: 161 year: 2025
doi: 10.1159/000548453
13. Nurses’ occupational physical activity and workload in a perioperative intensive care unit in Slovenia
Nino Fijačko, Ruth Masterson Creber, Špela Metličar, Lucija Gosak, Gregor Štiglic
Preventive Medicine Reports vol: 37 first page: 102543 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102543
14. Prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors among nurses and para-health professionals working at primary healthcare level of Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Mithila Faruque, Lingkan Barua, Palash Chandra Banik, Sharmin Sultana, Animesh Biswas, Abdul Alim, Pradip Kumar Sen Gupta, Liaquat Ali
BMJ Open vol: 11 issue: 3 first page: e043298 year: 2021
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043298
15. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of hospital-based staff regarding physical activity at a private hospital in Johannesburg
Yurisha Ramautar, Boikhutso Tlou, Thembelihle P. Dlungwane
South African Family Practice vol: 62 issue: 1 year: 2020
doi: 10.4102/safp.v62i1.5131
16. L-shaped association between leisure-time physical activity and depressive symptoms in individuals with chronic inflammatory airway disease: Data from the NHANES (2007–2018)
Na Xiang, Jingshan Bai, Wenqiang Li, Yanlei Ge, Zhiping Deng
Heart & Lung vol: 70 first page: 263 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2025.01.004
17. Physical activity among dental health professionals in Hyderabad City: A questionnaire survey
Adepu Srilatha, Dolar Doshi, MPadma Reddy, Suhas Kulkarni, BSrikanth Reddy, Sahithi Reddy
Dental Research Journal vol: 13 issue: 6 first page: 544 year: 2016
doi: 10.4103/1735-3327.197038
18. Comparative study on the association between types of physical activity, physical activity levels, and the incidence of osteoarthritis in adults: the NHANES 2007–2020
Chenyang Huang, Ziyu Guo, Zhixiao Feng, Jiankang Xu, Zhicheng Pan, Wangxin Liu, Liqiang Duan, Enpeng Gu
Scientific Reports vol: 14 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-71766-9
