Optimization of physical activity of students of special medical group by means of digital tools

ˑ: 

Minnikaeva N.V.
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, North-Western Institute of Management, Saint Petersburg

Keywords: students of special medical group, digital tools, physical activity
 
Introduction  
Currently, researchers are investigating strategies to enhance physical activity among university students with health deviations. The integration of digital tools represents a promising avenue for optimizing physical activity levels in students of the Special Medical Group (SMG) [1, 2].
 
Research objective  
To examine the effectiveness of digital tools in optimizing physical activity among students of the Special Medical Group (SMG).
 
Methodology and research organization  
The study involved 106 first- to third-year students from the St. Petersburg Institute of Management, Economics and Business (SZIU RANEPA). Physical activity (PA) levels during daily life were assessed using pedometers (fitness wristbands) over a 9-month experimental period. Optimization of PA was implemented through a competitive methodology: at the end of each semester, individual step counts were calculated and published in a VKontakte (VK) community group. This public reporting mechanism served to stimulate autonomous physical activity and encourage participants to improve their performance.
 
Results and discussion  
Prior to the intervention, baseline assessment revealed that:  
– 26% of SMG students exhibited low physical activity, averaging 5,000–7,500 steps per day;  
– 21% achieved moderate activity levels (7,500–10,000 steps/day);  
– only 9% met or exceeded the recommended threshold of 10,000–12,500 steps/day.  
 
After the intervention, PA levels were re-evaluated using the *Graduated Step Index* (GSI) scale. Results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement: the average PA level of the group increased from Level 2 (“low activity”) to Level 3 (“moderate activity”), with p ≤ 0.05.
 
Conclusion  
Optimizing physical activity among SMG students is a multidimensional process rooted in engagement with modern digital tools. The motivational framework incorporated external motivators, primarily accountability within a reference social media community (VK). Key factors contributing to improved PA outcomes included: the presence of measurable goals, peer interaction and social support, and positive reinforcement from instructors. Digital platforms thus serve not merely as tracking tools but as catalysts for behavioral change through social motivation and gamification.
 
References  
  1. Guruleva, T.G. & Skripnichenko, E.V. (2025) Vnedrenie fidgetal’-tekhnologii kak sredstvo povysheniia motivatsii studentov spetsial’nykh meditsinskikh grupp k zaniatiiam fizicheskoi kul’turoi [Implementation of fidgetal technologies as a means of enhancing motivation of students of special medical groups toward physical culture], Kul’tura fizicheskaia i zdorov’e, (1)(93), pp. 466–470. https://doi.org/10.47438/1999-3455_2025_1_466  
  2. Minnikaeva, N.V. (2025) Formirovanie motivatsii studentov spetsial’noi meditsinskoi gruppy k zaniatiiam fizicheskoi kul’turoi v institute na osnove Internet-tekhnologii “VK-soobshchestvo” [Formation of motivation among students of the special medical group toward physical culture at the institute based on the Internet technology “VK community”], Uchenye zapiski universiteta im. P.F. Lesgafta, (3)(241), pp. 202–209. https://doi.org/10.5930/1994-4683-2025-202-209