Enhancing workplace exercise and physical fitness: university workers’ attitudes

Abstract

Background: Workplace exercise (WE) has become the focus of a number of studies in Thailand universities as it is believed to prevent numerous chronic diseases.  This study aims to illustrate and investigate the behavioral factors related to the physical fitness of university workers and attitudes in work performance.   Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study on 93 workers with purposive sampling using the Taro Yamane method, to examine exercise behaviors and knowledge, attitude, and exercise practice. Then, 31 selected participants who were at a moderate level of attitude and exercise practice joined the workplace exercise program for two months. Participants’ exercise behavior and knowledge, attitude, and exercise practice before and after joining the program were analyzed using an independent t-test. The physical fitness and work attitude were examined.  Results: The results show that the university workers who participated in the program had an adjustment in exercise behavior after engaging in WE with a high level of knowledge, attitude (3.14+.18) and exercise practice (3.32+.31). In addition, we found that programs improved physical fitness with a significant increase in resting heart rate and leg strength (p<0.05). A direct relationship between work attitude and physical fitness after adapting intervention were revealed with work attitude in 3.35+.44 high agreement.   Conclusion: The results correspond to earlier studies on exercise factors with the increasing exercise behavior level in terms of knowledge, attitude, and exercise practice. The WE is important for university workers. Therefore, the developed WE in the workplace increased the health and work attitude.