فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the inference that physical activity (PA) may have on academicperformance and learning styles of Latin American dental students.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross‑sectional study, an administrative dataset and a voluntaryuniversity characterization provided information about PA and academic performance. Moreover, 218dental students of the University of Antioquia in Colombia completed a structured questionnaire toidentify their learning styles. To analyze the information obtained a Pearson correlation, and logisticand linear regression models were implemented.RESULTS: A total of 131 (60%) students informed being physically active (PA group), and 87 (40%)did not report PA (non‑PA group). The results showed a high‑grade point average (GPA) in thePA group (P = 0.01). The PA group showed a preference for the theorist and pragmatist learningstyles with statistically significant differences between the groups (P = 0.004 and P < 0.0001,respectively). It was also observed a statistically significant Pearson positive correlation between thetheorist style and higher GPA (r = 0.15; P = 0.04). The multivariate regression model showed thatPA protects against lower means of GPA (odds ratio = 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09–0.7,P = 0.01). Furthermore, the adjusted linear regression models also showed that PA protects againstlower means of the theorist (β= −0.15; 95% CI: −0.02 to − 0.002, P = 0.002) and pragmatist styles(β= −0.18; 95% CI: −0.03 to − 0.006, P = 0.0006). Interestingly, men were statistically significant inall multivariable models.DISCUSSION: This study suggests that PA is associated with higher academic performance andthe theorist and pragmatist styles. Male students were also more physically active; therefore, it isrelevant to establish strategies to stimulate physical activities in dental students, especially in women,including extracurricular activities.