THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORAL CARE SPEACIALISTS' PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS

Abstract

Oral care professionals often have a busy work schedule, work in awkward positions and eat irregularly, which makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A number of studies have been conducted that prove the importance and benefits of physical activity, but only a small part of them investigates not only the links between an active lifestyle, but also nutrition, harmful habits and their influence on the lifestyle of oral care professionals.
The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between oral care specialists' physical activity and lifestyle factors. 
Material and methods. The questionnaire survey was posted online. The survey participants provided their demographic characteristics, height and weight. The Lithuanian Adult Lifestyle Survey questionnaire was used to assess nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption and subjective quality of life. The short version of the IPAQ questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) was used to assess physical activity. 378 female oral care professionals were surveyed.
Results. More than half of the oral care professionals surveyed engaged in moderate-intensity physical activity at least once a week. Physically active women consumed less fat, red meat, sugary and carbonated drinks than physically inactive women. Physically active women consumed more fruits and vegetables than those who were not active. Statistically significant relationships were found between healthier diets and higher levels of physical activity. No statistically significant relationships were found between cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and time spent on active physical activity. Physically active oral care professionals generally rated their health very well, while physically inactive women rated it poorly. The results show that longer time spent on physical activity was statistically significantly associated with better health assessment.
Conclusions. Physically active oral care professionals had better dietary habits and rated their health better than inactive oral care professionals.