Knowledge and Practice of Physical Exercise among the Inhabitants of Bangkok(cid:31)
Piyapat Dajpratham MD*, Navaporn Chadchavalpanichaya MD*
Affiliation : (cid:31) This manuscript was presented on Apr 18, 2006 as a poster presentation at the Siriraj-Rama scientific meeting to commemorate the 60th anniversary celebration of His Majesty’s Accession on the Throne “Together Towards Excellence in Health Care” at the Queen Sirikitti National Exhibition Hall * Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Objective : To study the knowledge and practice of physical exercise among the inhabitants of Bangkok. The
factors correlated with knowledge and the practice of physical exercise, were also explored.
Materials and Methods : A self-administered questionnaire was designed to survey 1,200 inhabitants in Bangkok
and the vicinity aged more than 18 years old.
Results : One thousand one hundred and seven people aged ranging from 18-81 years old completed the
questionnaires (response rate 92.25%). Six hundred and forty people (58.4%) exercised regularly. The exercise
was performed 1-2 days per week with varied duration. They performed exercises alone, in their homes, in the
evening. They did not report any expenditure on the exercises. Common types of exercise reported were
walking, jogging, attending an aerobic exercise class, using an exercise machine, and callisthenic exercise.
Two hundred and seven people (18.9%) did not perform exercise at all because of the lack of time. The factors
correlated with regular exercise were the increasing age, the high level of education, the amount of free time
per day, and the enjoyment of exercise. With relation to knowledge of exercise, most people lacked knowledge
of the benefits of exercise rather than how to do exercise and when to stop exercising. People who had a higher
educational level than secondary school and a high income, practiced exercise everyday. They acquired their
knowledge of exercise from attending an exercise course.
Conclusion : People living in Bangkok usually performed regular exercises of 1-2 days per week with varied
duration. The majority lacked knowledge of the benefits of exercise. Educational level of the samples was the
only factor correlated with both regular exercise and knowledge of exercise.
Keywords : Knowledge, Practice, Physical exercise, Bangkok inhabitants
