TEACHERS' SHOE SELECTION FACTORS FOR SCHOOL

Abstract

The selection of shoes among school teachers can significantly impact their musculoskeletal health when they are required to stand for prolonged periods in the classroom. Properly selected and supportive footwear can reduce the risk of developing or worsening Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), ensuring that teachers can perform their duties comfortably and effectively. This study dives into the interesting realm of school teacher shoe choosing, investigating the variables driving their decisions and putting insight into the broad range of shoe selections present in the classroom, from comfort to professionalism to personal expression. This cross- sectional study comprised 212 school teachers from selected elementary schools in Terengganu. Teachers were recruited through purposive sampling from the sampling frame consisting of a list of all teachers obtained from the respective elementary schools' administrative offices. These teachers completed all the surveys at their workplace, which was their respective schools. Results were analyzed using descriptive analysis, which showed that regarding shoe type selection, the preference for heels (50.5%) edged out the desire for flats (49.5%) among teachers. In terms of shoe size, the majority of teachers (38.2%) wore size five shoes, followed by size 8 (21.2%), size 6 (20.8%), and size 7 (19.8%).
Furthermore, nearly half of the teachers (49%) owned only one pair of shoes during school hours, and the majority (58.0%) indicated an average shoe spending range of RM50 to RM100. Co-workers had the most significant influence on shoe selection when purchasing, accounting for 36.8% of the total. With 32.1%, advertising was the second most influential element. With 14.6%, 11.8%, and 14.7%, respectively, salespeople, friends, and relatives influenced their shoe choices for school hours. This study has shed light on the numerous elements influencing shoe choice among school teachers. Understanding these elements is critical for researchers and the footwear industry to promote proper shoes worn during school hours.