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. 2024 Feb 19:11:1344028.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1344028. eCollection 2024.

Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe

Affiliations

Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe

Michaela Schramlová et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Erratum in

  • Corrigendum: Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe.
    Schramlová M, Řasová K, Jonsdottir J, Pavlíková M, Rambousková J, Äijö M, Šlachtová M, Kobesová A, Žiaková E, Kahraman T, Pavlů D, Bermejo-Gil BM, Bakalidou D, Billis E, Georgios P, Alves-Guerreiro J, Strimpakos N, Příhoda A, Kiviluoma-Ylitalo M, Lähteenmäki ML, Koišová J, Berisha G, Hagovská M, Arca AL, Cortés-Amaro S. Schramlová M, et al. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Apr 8;11:1408214. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1408214. eCollection 2024. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024. PMID: 38651059 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Background: The study of physiotherapy is challenging and can affect the students' well-being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe and compare factors that could affect well-being among students across Europe.

Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire survey, students of bachelor's physiotherapy programs from 23 European faculties, from 8 countries, were interviewed on mental health and stress burden, sleep quality, dietary habits, and physical activity.

Results: Although 75% of students rated their quality of life positively and 47% were satisfied with their mental health, 65% showed higher levels of stress and 51% described impaired sleep quality. The minimum physical activity of 150 min weekly was described by 79% of students, within which 67% engaged in strengthening twice a week. Students with a higher stress load/worse psychological health also showed worse sleep quality and lower amount of physical activity, women were significantly worse off. In terms of physical activity and sleep quality, students from Finland and Kosovo achieved the best results, while students from Italy, Greece, and Portugal achieved the worst. Students from Italy indicated the greatest dissatisfaction with the organisation of the study system and communication with teachers, while in Kosovo students rated the communication and study organisation the highest. All students had a problem with adhering to nutritional habits. Students from Italy and Spain, with the lowest body mass indexes and weight averages, were closest to the nutrition recommendations.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that physiotherapy students are burdened with stress, suffer from sleep disorders, and do not follow the recommendations regarding nutrition nor physical activity. There are significant differences between universities and countries in some aspects.

Keywords: nutrition; physical activity; physiotherapy; sleep; stress; students.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Students coping strategies among states.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Summary of students satisfaction with study programme.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Amount of study hours among students.

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