PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS AND PERFORMANCE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL LICENSING EXAMINATION

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Objective. 1) determine if osteopathic medical students are meeting The American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) recommendations of physical activity levels 2) identify the barriers that the osteopathic medical student may have to meeting these recommendations 3) test for a correlation between physical activity and Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of The United States (COMLEX) Level 1 scores. Background. Despite the known health benefits associated with physical activity, the positive impacts a physically active physician can have on patients, and the existence of recommended guidelines for physical activity, a variety of barriers exist that can pose a significant hindrance to meeting recommended physical activity levels in medical students. Although extensively studied in other populations, factors influencing physical activity in osteopathic medical students have not been investigated. This study will determine if osteopathic medical students are meeting minimum requirements to physical activity, the barriers that they may have to meeting these requirements, and test for a relationship, if any, between physical activity and medical school performance. Methods. We have obtained IRB approval and are currently collecting data until November 30, 2015. A survey tool is being used to gather data to support or refute the hypotheses of this study. We are specifically interested in identifying the relationship between the physical activity levels, barriers to physical activity, and COMLEX Level 1 scores of osteopathic medical students currently in their third and fourth year (the class of 2017 and 2016 respectively). The questionnaire is being sent out through Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), Student Government Association (SGA), and other associated online social networks. OMS-IIIs and OMS-IVs across the country are filling out these online questionnaires, which take less than 5 minutes to complete. As of now, we have 718 submitted responses and will close the survey on November 30, 2015. Results. Results and conclusions from this research will be presented. Conclusion. Results and conclusions from this research will be presented. Grants. Burnell Award application submitted on September 21, 2015. Outcome pending.