Time dedicated to physical activity among medical residents: are there differences based on gender or specialty type?

• Published in: Revista clínica espanõla (English edition) 2024-06, Vol.224 (6), p.387-392
• Main Authors: Pujol, O., Vila-Castillo, L., Álvaro, C., Aguilar, M., Joshi, N., Minguell, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actividad física; Ejercicio; España; Exercise; Gender; Género; Health; Medical residents; Physical activity; Residentes médicos; Salud; Spain
• ISSN: 2254-8874; 2254-8874
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rceng.2024.04.014

Physical activity (PA) is associated with positive health outcomes such as prevention of chronic diseases, psychological well-being and improved work performance. Medical residents are subjected to sleep deprivation, extended work schedule and high burnout prevalence. These conditions may lead to the neglect of personal health and the restriction of time dedicated to PA. The objective of the present study was to analyze the time dedicated to PA of medical residents, comparing women vs men residents and surgical vs clinical residents. It is a cross-sectional study performed in a Spanish third-level university hospital. All medical residents from our institution were invited to voluntarily participate in the study answering a web-based questionnaire on June 2022. Data regarding demographics, residency and PA practice was recorded. The response rate was 20.73% (114/550). The 32.5% of the residents considered themselves to be physically inactive and mean time dedicated to PA in a regular week was 3.62 ± 2.22 h. Men residents dedicated more time to PA than women residents (4.23 ± 2.42 h vs 3.14 ± 1.95 h, p = 0.012) and surgical residents dedicated more time than clinical residents (4.33 ± 2.36 h vs 3.23 ± 2.05 h, p = 0.01). One third of the medical residents consider themself physically inactive. Women and clinical residents practice PA less time than men and surgical residents. Efforts should be made to encourage PA among residents, especially in women and non-surgeons. La actividad física (AF) está asociada a efectos de salud positivos como la prevención de enfermedades crónicas, el bienestar psicológico y el mejor rendimiento laboral. Los médicos residentes están sujetos a privación de sueño, horarios de trabajo prolongados y una alta prevalencia de agotamiento. Estas condiciones pueden llevar al descuido de la salud personal y a la restricción del tiempo dedicado a la AF. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar el tiempo dedicado a la AF de los médicos residentes, comparando a las residentes mujeres vs hombres y a los residentes quirúrgicos vs clínicos. Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado en un hospital universitario de tercer nivel en España. Todos los médicos residentes de nuestra institución fueron invitados a participar voluntariamente en el estudio respondiendo a un cuestionario en línea en junio de 2022. Se registraron datos demográficos, de residencia y práctica de AF. La tasa de respuesta fue del 20.73% (114/550). El 32.5% de los resid