Awareness and Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Exercise and Physical Health Education Adherence among University Students in Enugu State

Abstract

Artificial intelligence has emerged as an innovative technology for promoting healthy lifestyle through personalized exercise guidance, real time feedback, wearable devices, and intelligent fitness applications. Despite its growing global adoption, awareness and utilisation of AI based exercise technologies among university students in Nigeria remains relatively low due to inadequate digital infrastructure, limited institutional support and insufficient integration into physical and health education programs. This study examined the awareness and utilization of artificial intelligence in enhancing exercise and physical health education adherence among university students in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study adopted across sectional survey design. The population comprises 66,775 undergraduate students from public universities in Enugu States a sample of 389 students was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire. The reliability coefficient of 0.71 using Cronbach’s alpha was obtained. The Frequency and percentages were used to answer the research questions, whereas chi-square statistics tested the hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that most students were aware of AI-based exercises technologies (81.7%), although their level of utilisation was only moderate (49.4%). The study further indicated that students perceived AI technologies as effective in improving exercise participation and adherence to physical health education activities. The study proved that increased awareness and institutional support could significantly improve the utilisation of AI technologies for exercise and physical health education adherence. However, universities should integrate AI-based fitness technologies into physical and health education programs and organize awareness campaign to improve students’ adoption of AI-supported exercise interventions.