KUMJ | VOL. 24 | NO. 3 | ISSUE 96 | JULY-SEPTEMBER, 2026

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Physical Activity among Health Care Professionals Working at Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal
Thapa Chhetri S, Suwal S

Abstract:
Background The increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases has a substantial impact on individuals’ quality of life. Healthcare professionals play an important role in health promotion and disease prevention. Physical activity is an established component of prevention and management of non-communicable diseases and may improve health and quality of life. Objective To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice towards physical activity among healthcare professionals working at tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Additionally, the study aimed to examine their association with selected sociodemographic and professional characteristics. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among health care professionals working at tertiary care hospital in Nepal, from June 2024 to January 2025. Census sampling was used. A structured questionnaire was used to assessed knowledge, attitude and practice towards physical activity. Knowledge was categorized as excellent, good or poor, while attitude and practice were categorized as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The chi-square test was used to assess associations between categorical variables, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Result Among the 250 eligible healthcare professionals, 241 participated in the study, resulting in a response rate of 96.4%. Among the participants, 73.4% demonstrated excellent knowledge, 94.2% had a positive attitude, and 67.2% demonstrated satisfactory practice. Practice was significantly associated with age (p < 0.001), staff category (p = 0.043), department (p < 0.001) and work experience (p < 0.001). Work experience was also significantly associated with attitude (p = 0.015). Conclusion Health care professionals working at tertiary care hospital in Nepal demonstrated high knowledge and positive attitudes towards physical activity, however a gap between knowledge and practice seen evident. Implementing structured workplacebased programs to address barriers to physical activity may enhance engagement among healthcare professionals, with potential benefits for both healthcare workers and the patients they serve.
Keyword : Attitude, Healthcare professional, Knowledge, Physical activity, Practice