Abstract:

Background:
Dancing is culture and movement, communication and pleasure, but could be also a method of prophylaxis and treatment with beneficial impact on health and well-being. In the presented research project, dancing and in particular the Bulgarian Falk Dances (BgFD), is a sport discipline in the curriculum of the first and second year students in Medical University of Varna (MU-Varna), Bulgaria. BgFD optimally combine physical activity, social interaction, creative and emotional expressions. Nationally, studying BgFD at a university setting is an innovative approach, enhancing the revival of BgFD and the cultural transfer to the newly accepted international students in MU-Varna.

The aim of the presented research is to investigate the influence of BgFD on the health and quality of life of the students from MU-Varna, taking into account the changes in their emotional, mental and physical health status after activities with the BgFD. On this basis, a qualitative research (Delphi technique) will lead to an expert consensus on the place of the BgFD as an independent discipline in the curriculum of students at medical universities.

Design and Methods:
Mixed-methods approach is applied and the study protocol involves two phases. The first quantitative phase is a prospective cohort study, in which the participants will consist of up to 200 students (possibly matched by sex: 100 women and up to 100 men), divided into two main groups: dancing and non-dancing BgFD during their sports classes at the university. Each of the students will participate after signing an informed consent.

The following measurements will be carried out:
1) A questionnaire on motivation for dancing, daily curriculum self-management, and subjective health status will be carried out twice – at the beginning of the semester (before their dancing classes) and at the end of the semester;
2) One-time anthropometric measurements (height, body weight, body mass index, dynamic flexibility, speed and strength of the limbs);
3) In the middle of the semester, a standardized tool, developed by Paul C. Bragg and Patricia Bragg in 2008, will be applied to determine the stress levels of the participants. The second qualitative phase will be developed according the first phase results, and will apply a Delphi technique in order to reach consensus among expert on the place of the BgFD in the students’ curriculum.

The statistical analysis will be performed with IBM SPSS Statistics v.23. Hypotheses will be tested using paired t-test, Independent-Samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA and χ2-criteria (for the descriptive profile data). The results obtained will be considered as statistically significant if the p-value is <0.05.

Conclusion:
BgFD could be the social glue improving emotional and physical well being of both national and international students at MU-Varna. The study protocol has received approval by the Commission of Ethics in Scientific Research, MU- Varna, Bulgaria (October, Year 2018).

Keywords:

Bulgarian Falk Dances (BgFD), health, well-being, university students, quality of life.