Background: To control the spread of COVID-19 infection, dental services were limited to only emergency treatments. This restriction impacted lifestyles and limited physical activity among dental professionals. This study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 quarantine on the level of physical activity (LoPA) among dental professionals.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 211 participants from the dental profession in Riyadh city. Data were gathered from dental students, interns, general dentists, residents, and specialists through online and paper-based surveys. The assessment of physical activity was made using an adapted version of the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire to categorize participants in terms of physical activity level as Active, Moderately Active, Moderately Inactive, and Inactive.
Results: Out of the 211 participants, 124 (58.8%) were males and 87 (41.2%) were females. Results presented that physical activity in 45.5% of the participants decreased during quarantine, whereas 40% had a similar score, and only 14% scored higher LoPA during quarantine. LoPA for most males (47%) did not change during quarantine, whereas most females (53%) had a decreased LoPA. Out of the 179 participants aged ≥40, 28 (15.6%) scored a higher LoPA. In the second age group (
Key words: Dental professionals, COVID-19 quarantine, cross-sectional, physical activity level.
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