PRIORITIES IN THE CHOICE OF PHYSICAL AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES OF THE 2ND YEAR STUDENTS OF THE SPECIALTY “PHYSICAL THERAPY, ERGOTHERAPY”

Abstract

Recent research shows that the state of students’ health worsens and their physical activity is insufficient. The reasons for this phenomenon are various: constant increase in academic workload, insufficient number of Physical Education classes included in the curriculum, high cost of modern fitness services, etc. In addition, the traditional form of Physical Education lessons does not contribute to the students’ growth of interest in the process of physical culture and health activities, which involves the acquisition of an appropriate set of knowledge, skills and abilities. The lack of scientific papers dedicated to the comparison of students’ priorities in the choice of physical and recreation activities, in particular, those of medical students, stipulated the choice of the theme and aim of the given research – to determine the priorities of 4th year students majoring in “Physical Therapy, Ergotherapy” in their choice of physical and health recreation activities and popular sports. The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire. Students were supposed to give a single answer to a question. The survey was conducted in October in 2020–2021 academic year at I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University. The survey encompassed 46 4th year Ukrainian students of medical faculty, specialty “Physical Therapy, Ergotherapy”. In the course of our research we used the following methods: analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observation, interviews, questionnaires, methods of mathematical statistics. The analysis of students’ answers allowed to single out certain tendencies and characteristic features of their sports interests. The study concluded that to improve the process of students’ physical education their interests should be taken into account, in particular through the introduction of the course “Health and Rehabilitation Swimming” for the 3rd year students of the specialty “Physical Therapy, Ergotherapy”.