Venkata Subbarayudu Chintakunta1, Aditya Varma Samanthapudi2, Sowmya Pallavi Rapuri3, Supriya Konda4, Manoj Kumar A.5
BACKGROUND
Physical literacy (PL) is the motivation, confidence, physical competence,
knowledge & understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in
physical activities for life. Physical literacy can be identified as a basis for the
characteristics, attributes, behaviours, awareness, knowledge & understanding,
towards a healthy lifestyle, as well as a foundation to an elite sport. Research
shows that without the development of physical literacy, many children and youth
withdraw from physical activity and sport and turn to more inactive &/or unhealthy
choices during their leisure time. The objective of this study is to determine the
physical literacy and the factors influencing it among medical students.
METHODS
This was a cross sectional study. Selection of participants was based on simple
random sampling method by computer generated random numbers and then
questionnaires were administered to all the participants. The questionnaire
consisted of questions pertaining to sociodemographic and cultural factors,
anthropometric measurements, and PLAY (physical literacy assessment for youth)
self-tool. PLAY self-tool has the following sub-sections - environment, physical
literacy self-description, relative ranking of literacies and fitness.
RESULTS
The mean physical literacy total score in our study was 59.5 ± 11.3. About 19 %
of the subjects scored PLAY self-total score grade of less than or equal to 50.0.
Nearly 30 % scored physical literacy self-efficacy score of less than 600. Our
results demonstrate significant associations between PLAY self-total score grade
and gender, waist hip ratio, leisure time activity, Asian BMI, physical literacy selfefficacy
score, fitness, and the most common mode of transport between college
and home/hostel (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Future research should explore and standardize the tools to assess physical literacy
objectively in the young adults (18 - 25 years). We recommend increasing the
physical activity hours in the medical curriculum and encourage active modes of
transport (bicycles/walk etc) within the campus.
