HEALTH AND FITNESS INSIGHTS: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES ASSESSMENT OF UiTM CAWANGAN PULAU PINANG (BERTAM CAMPUS) STAFF

Abstract

Consistent exercise is essential for employees' physical and mental health, enhancing productivity, alleviating stress, and diminishing the chances of chronic diseases. Employees' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning physical activity substantially affect their engagement in exercise programs. Obstacles such as excessive workload, inadequate facilities, and time limitations impede regular exercise, whereas favourable attitudes, supporting leadership, and accessible fitness programs promote participation. Comprehending employees' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices is essential for formulating effective workplace health strategies.  This study sought to evaluate these parameters via a cross-sectional survey conducted at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Bertam Campus. Seventy-four out of one hundred seventy-two employees participated. Although all respondents recognised the advantages of exercise, significant knowledge gaps were apparent—25.7% were uninformed about muscle-strengthening activities for chronic diseases, and 36.5% were unaware of the required 150 minutes of weekly physical activity. Misunderstandings of exercise dangers, including iron depletion (24.3%) and injuries from overexertion (28.4%), underscore the necessity for enhanced education on exercise safety and nutrition. The majority of participants regarded exercise favourably, mainly for health (95.9%), fitness (95.9%), and weight management (93.3%). Nevertheless, obstacles such as time limitations (35.1%) and stress (10.9%) remained, while social motivation fluctuated. Most participants (67.6%) engaged in activity 1-3 times per week, whereas 18.9% were sedentary. Brisk walking (83.8%) and jogging (51.4%) were prevalent but planned routines such as gym training (9.5%) and high-intensity interval training (17.6%) were less favoured due to constraints of time, expense, or lack of knowledge.  Research indicates that merely enhancing knowledge may not maintain workout routines. Addressing lifestyle constraints and motivational factors is crucial for fostering continuous physical activity among employees.