Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical Students
Physical activity (PA) is widely recognized as a therapeutic intervention for numerous non-communicable diseases. This study assessed Greek medical students’ knowledge and education on PA across seven medical schools. A structured questionnaire was distributed electronically to all medical schools a...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| author | Eirini Kyriakoulakou Apostolos Z. Skouras Charilaos Tsolakis Panagiotis Koulouvaris Anastassios Philippou |
| author_facet | Eirini Kyriakoulakou Apostolos Z. Skouras Charilaos Tsolakis Panagiotis Koulouvaris Anastassios Philippou |
| author_sort | Eirini Kyriakoulakou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physical activity (PA) is widely recognized as a therapeutic intervention for numerous non-communicable diseases. This study assessed Greek medical students’ knowledge and education on PA across seven medical schools. A structured questionnaire was distributed electronically to all medical schools across Greece, with 135 students responding (67.4% female). Among respondents, 78.5% reported being taught about PA benefits, and 77.8% felt prepared to discuss them with patients. However, 30.2% had received less than two hours of formal PA education. Only 25.2% were aware of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Greek Central Board of Health (KESY) recommendations, while 81.5% expressed the need for additional education on PA and its role in health. Students who were taught about PA were more likely to address exercise physiology (42.5% vs. 17.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.013, OR = 16.4), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (52.8% vs. 24.1%; <i>p</i> = 0.006, OR = 3.5), and PA benefits (89.6% vs. 34.5%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, OR = 3.5). Although most medical students have been taught about PA’s health benefits, only a small proportion have sufficient knowledge for effective prescription. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5489a7587bbd4e4c8b6694a0b8e9d610 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-5489a7587bbd4e4c8b6694a0b8e9d6102025-08-20T03:13:44ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-07-0115792510.3390/bs15070925Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical StudentsEirini Kyriakoulakou0Apostolos Z. Skouras1Charilaos Tsolakis2Panagiotis Koulouvaris3Anastassios Philippou41st Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece1st Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece1st Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece1st Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreecePhysical activity (PA) is widely recognized as a therapeutic intervention for numerous non-communicable diseases. This study assessed Greek medical students’ knowledge and education on PA across seven medical schools. A structured questionnaire was distributed electronically to all medical schools across Greece, with 135 students responding (67.4% female). Among respondents, 78.5% reported being taught about PA benefits, and 77.8% felt prepared to discuss them with patients. However, 30.2% had received less than two hours of formal PA education. Only 25.2% were aware of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Greek Central Board of Health (KESY) recommendations, while 81.5% expressed the need for additional education on PA and its role in health. Students who were taught about PA were more likely to address exercise physiology (42.5% vs. 17.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.013, OR = 16.4), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (52.8% vs. 24.1%; <i>p</i> = 0.006, OR = 3.5), and PA benefits (89.6% vs. 34.5%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, OR = 3.5). Although most medical students have been taught about PA’s health benefits, only a small proportion have sufficient knowledge for effective prescription.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/925lifestyle medicinemedical curriculummedical educationphysical educationWHO guidelines |
| spellingShingle | Eirini Kyriakoulakou Apostolos Z. Skouras Charilaos Tsolakis Panagiotis Koulouvaris Anastassios Philippou Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical Students Behavioral Sciences lifestyle medicine medical curriculum medical education physical education WHO guidelines |
| title | Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical Students |
| title_full | Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical Students |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical Students |
| title_short | Knowledge and Education on Physical Activity Health Benefits and Prescription Principles Among Greek Medical Students |
| title_sort | knowledge and education on physical activity health benefits and prescription principles among greek medical students |
| topic | lifestyle medicine medical curriculum medical education physical education WHO guidelines |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/925 |
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