Short-Term Effects of a Health Promotion Course for Taiwanese Nursing Students

Australian University Nursing and Allied Health Students' and Staff Physical Activity Promotion Preparedness and Knowledge: A Pre-Post Study Using an Educational Intervention

The promotion of physical activity (PA) by health professionals is a key strategy to increase PA levels in the population. In this study, we investigated PA promotion, preparedness, and knowledge among university nursing and allied health students and staff, as well as PA resource usage within curricula, before and after an educational intervention. Students and staff from 13 health disciplines at one Australian university were invited to complete an online survey, and a curriculum audits were conducted before and after PA teaching resources were promoted by academic PA champions (n = 14). A total of 299 students and 43 staff responded to the survey pre-intervention, and 363 and 32 responded to the post-intervention, respectively. PA promotion role perception (≥93%) and confidence to provide general PA advice (≥70%) were high throughout the study. Knowledge of PA guidelines was poor (3−10%). Students of physiotherapy, sport and exercise science, as well as more active students, were more likely to be aware of the PA guidelines (p < 0.05). Over 12 months, PA promotion preparedness and knowledge did not change significantly, nor was there a change in the amount of PA content delivered, despite a significant increase in the use of the teaching resources across a number of disciplines (p = 0.007). Future research should be carried out to investigate the implementation of the resources over time and to develop additional strategies for PA promotion and education scaffolded across curricula.

The Assessment of Lifestyle Status among High School and College Students in Luzon, Philippines

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle has been one of the central subjects of increasing research interest worldwide and acknowledged as part of the relevant factors of an individual's health status. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease. The purpose of this study is to assess lifestyle status among high school and college students and to explore which sociodemographic variables have influenced such existing healthy lifestyle behaviors.

METHODS

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted among 230 students from the high school and college. The questionnaire included descriptive information and the Healthy Lifestyle Screening Tool (HLST) to assess lifestyle scores among students from the high school and college. Socio-demographic characteristics of students included were perceived family income, domestic status or people living with, school life satisfaction, happiness rate, and self-rated health status.

RESULTS

The results of this study showed the significance of lifestyle status among high school and college students having total scores of 106.56 (SD = 28.11) and 100.9 (32.91) respectively. Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics had significance in perceived economic status, life satisfaction, health status, and happiness rate. Furthermore, healthy lifestyle subcomponents had significant differences in water, air, rest, exercise, nutrition, and trust.

CONCLUSION

Healthy lifestyle status among students both in high school and college is low specifically in components such as sunlight, water, air, rest, exercise, nutrition, temperance as well as the general physical condition. Adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors among students are needing emphasis and guidance through promotion and education. Health education programs and promotions in institutions need to be carried out and be well-implemented for students to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Health habits of nursing students: A longitudinal study of health perceptions and health habits

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To examine nursing students' health habits. More specifically, the objectives were to determine whether there were any changes in their health habits during their course of study, and to understand whether the students' perceptions about good health conditions cohered with their health-related behaviour.

BACKGROUND

The transition from high school to university has an undesirable effect on students' health habits, and nursing students' unhealthy behaviours may prevent them from helping patients improve their poor health habits.

DESIGN

A longitudinal design was used. The study followed the recommendations of STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology).

METHODS

All students were recruited from a nursing science degree course in an Italian university. The sample consisted of 351 nursing students. Data were collected at the baseline during their entrance into the university (T0) and at the end of their third year of coursework (T3). We developed the Nursing Student Health Habits Scale, which was administered by a trained researcher. The McNemar test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate the differences in health habits between T0 and T3, and a logistics model to assess the factors influencing students' good health perceptions were used.

RESULTS

From T0 to T3, there were decreases in the number of students who requested physician consultations (p = .01) and increases in those who exercised daily (p = .003). There was also a change in the nutrition model (p = .018). In the multivariate model, physician consultations for medical problems and performing physical exercise were factors influencing good health perceptions.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research is needed to illuminate other aspects of students' health habits.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Universities are advised to address these problems by reflecting on undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum content concerning health management and disease prevention.

Propriedades Psicométricas da Versão Brasileira da Adolescent Health Promotion Scale (AHPS)

Resumo Os objetivos do estudo foram traduzir para o idioma português, realizar adaptação transcultural e verificar propriedades psicométricas da Adolescent Health Promotion Scale (AHPS) para uso em adolescentes brasileiros. Versão original foi traduzida de acordo com recomendações internacionais. Versão final da escala traduzida foi administrada em uma amostra de 1.949 adolescentes de ambos os sexos com idade entre 12 e 18 anos. Para identificar as propriedades psicométricas iniciais foi realizada análise fatorial exploratória e, na sequência, análise fatorial confirmatória. Após discretas modificações apontadas no processo de tradução, comitê de juízes considerou que a versão para o idioma português da AHPS apresentou equivalências semântica, idiomática, cultural e conceitual. Análise fatorial confirmou estrutura de seis subescalas originalmente proposta, mediante indicadores estatísticos equivalentes a χ2 /gl=1,83, CFI=0,948, GFI=0,969, AGFI=0,956 e RMSR=0,052. Validade fatorial e confiabilidade foram confirmadas mediante adequadas cargas fatoriais e desejáveis dimensões de confiabilidade composta (>0,7) e variância média extraída (>0,5). Concluindo, tradução, adaptação transcultural e propriedades psicométricas da AHPS foram satisfatórias, o que viabiliza sua aplicação em futuros estudos no Brasil.

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Health Promotion Attitudes in Preregistered Nurses: A Questionnaire Study

BACKGROUND

Nurses report inadequacies in health promotion practices. This study investigated attitudes toward being role models for healthy eating, and examined predictors of health promotion attitudes in preregistered nurses.

METHOD

A questionnaire was completed by 493 preregistered nurses. Measures included health promotion attitudes, healthy lifestyle index, self-esteem, and body satisfaction.

RESULTS

Preregistered nurses (89.5%) felt that nurses should be role models for health. However, 37% had a negative health promotion attitude and were more likely to be dissatisfied with their body and lead less healthy lifestyles. Most preregistered nurses (96%) felt that delivering health promotion would be a key element of their job and held positive health promotion attitudes. Healthy lifestyle was the most consistent significant predictor of health promotion attitude.

CONCLUSION

Preregistered nurses with an unhealthy lifestyle and lower self-esteem held a more negative health promotion attitude. Intervention is needed to support preregistered nurses in making healthy lifestyle choices, improving their self-perception and health promotion attitude. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(2):94-103.].

A Multidisciplinary Workplace Intervention for Chronic Low Back Pain among Nursing Assistants in Iran

Study Design

Interventional research with a 6-month follow-up period.

Purpose

We aimed to establish the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary workplace intervention on reduction of work-related low back pain (WRLBP), using ergonomic posture training coupled with an educational program based on social cognitive theory.

Overview of Literature

WRLBP is a major occupational problem among healthcare workers, who are often required to lift heavy loads. Patient handling is a particular requirement of nurse aides, and has been reported as the main cause of chronic WRLBP.

Methods

We included 125 nursing assistants from two hospitals affiliated to Qom University of Medical Sciences from May to December 2015. There was an intervention hospital with a number of 63 nursing assistants who received four multidisciplinary educational sessions for 2 hours each plus ergonomic posture training over two days and a control hospital with a number of 62 nursing assistants who didn't receive educational intervention about low back pain. The outcomes of interest were reductions in WRLBP intensity and disability from baseline to the follow up at 6 months, which were measured using a visual analog scale and the Quebec Disability Scale. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results

The comparison tests showed significant change from baseline in reduction of WRLBP intensity following the multidisciplinary program, with scores of 5.01±1.97 to 3.42±2.53 after 6 months on the visual analog scale in the intervention group (p<0.001) and no significant change in control groups. There was no significant difference in the disability scores between the two groups (p=0.07).

Conclusions

We showed that our multidisciplinary intervention could reduce the intensity of WRLBP among nurse aides, making them suitable for implementation in programs to improve WRLBP among nursing assistants working in hospitals.

What works to encourage student nurses to adopt healthier lifestyles? Findings from an intervention study

The health and lifestyles of student nurses has been widely explored internationally finding relatively high levels of smoking, low levels of physical activity and unhealthy diets. Not only does this have implications for productivity, personal health and the ability to do the demanding job of nursing, but unhealthy behaviours are also associated with a reluctance to undertake health promotion in their roles. Stress, time constraints and the irregular routine of nurse training were cited as barriers to a healthy lifestyle. Three types of accessible interventions were piloted to encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyles by student nurses: an educational session on having 'healthy conversations' with patients, an accelerometer to record steps, and an online personal wellness tracker. There was low take up of the offers designed to motivate behaviour change but students did welcome the educational input on how to have a 'healthy conversation' with a patient. This project highlights the need to incorporate programmes that addresses student nurses' health behaviours within nurse education, and at salient time points (e.g. induction or just before going on placement) over the course of study.

Work-Related Low Back Pain Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial from Tehran, Iran, Comparing Multidisciplinary Educational Program versus Physiotherapy Education

STUDY DESIGN

Clinical trial.

PURPOSE

To compare the multidisciplinary educational program versus physiotherapy education among Iranian nurses.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

Low back pain (LBP) can accompany significant occupational injuries in the nursing profession. There is no agreement on the most effective educational practice.

METHODS

This study was conducted from August 17, 2014 to September 22, 2014 in Tehran, Iran. Eligible nurses with chronic mechanical LBP (n=136) were classified into an intervention group (n=66) or the control group (n=70). The intervention group received physiotherapy education for 120-minutes followed by a 120-minute health education session based on predictive constructs of social cognitive theory (SCT). The control group received the 120-minute physiotherapy education. Disability rate, pain severity and back pain prevention behavior were measured at initially and 3 months after intervention using visual analogue scale, Roland-Morris disability questionnaire and nursing low back pain preventive behaviors questionnaire.

RESULTS

The two groups were the same in terms of all studied variables at the initiation of the study. At the 3-month follow up, predictive constructs of LBP preventive behaviors of participants in the intervention were improved (p<0.001). Significant decreases were evident at 3 months in pain severity (p=0.03) and disability (p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The designed multidisciplinary educational intervention could decrease chronic mechanical LBP in nurses.

Differences in health promoting lifestyle behavior of health management students based upon early diagnosis coverage in a cancer course

BACKGROUND

This is a descriptive study to determine whether coursework that is focused on early diagnosis in cancer makes a difference in self-reported health promoting lifestyle behavior of students who study health management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The population of the study consisted of a sample of 104 students enrolled in the Department of Health Management at the Faculty of Health in Kirikkale University in Turkey. Forty- eight students enrolled in a course called "Early Diagnosis of Cancer" and fifty-six did not take this course. Demographic information was collected and the "Health Promotion Life-Style Profile (HPLP) " was used to collect health promotion data. Frequency and descriptive statistics including one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis tests were used to evaluate data.

RESULTS

The HPLP mean score of the students was found to be 127.5±17.45. The highest mean score was observed for self-fulfillment and health responsibility, while the lowest was for diet and exercise sub-scales. It was found that certain variables were effective in developing health promoting lifestyle behaviors such as choosing this job voluntarily, working status of father and participation in social activity (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was found that the students had moderate levels of health promoting lifestyle behavior and they should be supported in terms of diet and exercise.

The efficacy of an educational intervention on health behaviors in a sample of Turkish female nursing students: a longitudinal, quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Unhealthy behaviors are a key factors leading to health problems. It remains unclear whether an educational intervention has a long term effect on health behaviors of nursing students.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term effect of an educational intervention on the health behaviors and examine predictors of change in these behaviors in Turkish female baccalaureate nursing students.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental design with one-group, pre- and posttest, and 3-year follow-up.

SETTING

The study was conducted in a school of nursing in Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred-eight students participated in this study.

METHODS

Data were collected before and after the implementation of the educational intervention by using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-I (HPLP-I). Descriptive statistics, the one-way analysis of variance for repeated measures and multiple linear regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

There were significant differences among the three time points in terms of the HPLP-I total and subscales scores (self-actualization, health responsibility, exercise, nutrition and stress management), except for interpersonal support (p<.05). The positive effect of intervention on the HPLP-I total and health responsibility subscale scores was maintained during the 3-year follow-up period (p<.05). The amount of change from pretest to posttest in the total HPLP-I score was the only predictor of the 3-year change in the total scale score (unstandardized β=0.538; p<.001), after adjustment for the potential confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The educational intervention was partially effective in improving all health behaviors of the nursing students over the long term. Nursing students who demonstrated higher levels of benefit from the intervention were more likely to have more positive health behaviors at the 3-year point. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the integration of health behaviors within the nursing curriculum.

Early training in tackling patient obesity: a systematic review of nurse education

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aims to identify studies that have assessed educational interventions in undergraduate nurse training regarding obesity, and to investigate the interventions' effectiveness.

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a prominent global issue and nurses have an increased role in weight management with patients. The literature has identified various theory-based behaviour change techniques that successfully assist weight management in patients. Thus, training nurses in obesity-related behaviour change techniques is appropriate in preparing them for their future professional role. However, effectiveness of these educational interventions has not yet been assessed.

METHODS

The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination guidelines informed this systematic review. Four databases were systematically searched and articles were assessed against inclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality appraisal forms were developed and completed to identify salient features within the articles.

RESULTS

Eight studies met inclusion criteria. Only two included both baseline and outcome measures, one of which was a randomised controlled trial. Additionally, only one study included an explicitly identified behaviour change technique. Interventions were delivered through a range of methods, however, quality appraisal indicated that all of the studies had poor methodologies and had high risks of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies in this area of research are sparse and are not methodologically robust. Therefore, it is not possible to identify effective educational interventions for nursing students on weight management.

IMPLICATIONS

More robust research is needed to investigate how nurses can be trained to facilitate weight management. Greater transparency of intervention descriptions, particularly around what behaviour change techniques were taught, would allow for replication and appropriate evaluation. Until then, it is not known if current teaching adequately equips nurses to manage obese and overweight patients.

Study on situational influences perceived in nursing discipline on health promotion: a qualitative study

Introduction and Objectives. Nurses, as behavioral models, play a key role in health promotion, and their attitudes towards health promotion highly influence their health and performance. The aim of this study is to explore nursing students' perception of studies in nursing discipline as a situational influence on health promotion. Materials and Methods. This study was conducted using directed content analysis, by means of 20 deep semistructured interviews with nursing students. The participants were selected on purposive sampling. Data was analyzed by the qualitative content analysis method. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and reviewed, and all codes were extracted and summarized. The codes were subcategorized on the basis of centralization and were categorized after review of subcategories, and finally, a theme was determined. Findings. The theme of nursing discipline's situational influence on nursing students' health promotion was revealed. This theme consisted of "choosing the field," "unfavorable environmental factors," "negative impacts of studies in nursing discipline on health," "positive effects of studies in nursing discipline on health", "needs," "attractiveness (aesthetics)," and "coping with negative situational influences in nursing discipline." Conclusion. The perception of studies in nursing discipline as a health-promoting behavior is under influence of social environment. Considering the importance of the students' positive perception of the existing situation, it is essential to pay attention to their attitudes and perceptions so that they can provide better services to patients.

Healthy lifestyles of university students in China and influential factors

This study was conducted to analyze to what extent university students exhibit healthy lifestyles and which sociodemographic variables influence healthy lifestyles. 4809 university students randomly selected were measured by use of the Healthy Lifestyle Scale for University Students questionnaire. When controlling for the other variables, the total healthy lifestyles score was predicted by gender, grade, father's level of education, and type of institution; exercise behaviour was partially predicted by gender, grade, type of institution, and family monthly income; regular behaviour was modulated by gender, grade, type of institution, family monthly income, and father's educational level; nutrition behaviour was partially affected by type of institution, family monthly income, and father's educational level; health risk behaviour was modulated by gender, mother's level of education, and family monthly income; health responsibility was modulated by gender, grade, type of institution, and father's educational level; social support was modulated by gender, grade, and father's educational level; stress management was modulated by gender, grade, type of institution, and mother's education level; life appreciation was modulated by grade, type of institution, and mother's educational level. These influences should be taken into account in designing interventions for specific socio-demographic profiles that might be at higher risk for certain behaviours.

Nursing students' attitudes to health promotion to: implications for teaching practice

For several decades now the World Health Organization has indicated the need for a reorientation of the health services away from focusing solely on illness and disease to one that considers both disease prevention and health promotion. Successive publications that guide public health policy both nationally and internationally reiterate the need for health promotion and the principles of health for all to become integral to the fabric of health care delivery. The role of the nurse as health promoters is well recognized. However despite acknowledgement by professional nursing bodies and nurse educators that health promotion forms a central tenet of undergraduate nurse education curricula, there are varied approaches to teaching and learning and little formal evaluation of the consequences of approaches taken. The aims of this study are to identify current health promotion curricular content within the Irish undergraduate nursing programme context; to measure nursing students' attitudes towards health promotion and to examine nursing students' reported lifestyle behaviours.

Healthy lifestyle behaviour in university students and influential factors in eastern Turkey

This research was carried out to determine the healthy lifestyle behaviour of university students receiving education in central Erzincan. The population of this descriptive and cross-sectional research included a total of 4506 students receiving education at Erzincan University in the city centre, and the sampling included 981 students selected by a simple random sampling method from these schools. Data were collected between April and May 2008 by using an identification form and the Health Promotion Life-Style Profile (HPLP) Scale. Healthy lifestyle behaviour point averages of students were detected to be at medium level (118.41±20.90). It was established that student's grade, educational level of parents, economic status of the family and the student, the place where the student stays and smoking status of the student resulted in a significant difference in HPLP Scale total score average and the mean score of the majority of subscales.

The influence of a health education programme on healthy lifestyles and practices among university students

This study aimed at exploring the lifestyles of university students, the relationship between specific demographical variables and health practices and the role of training in improving these practices. An experimental and a comparison group were selected using the convenient sampling method. Two 5-day training programmes on healthy lifestyles were conducted. Self-reported behaviours of both groups were assessed before and after the programme. The results reflected slightly positive health practices related to the three behavioural categories with the type of diet being the highest and physical activity being the lowest. No significant differences were reflected in relation to the selected variables. A positive influence of training on improving health behaviours of university students related to the three behavioural categories was observed. Results suggest a similar course to be included as a university elective and students' involvement in available extra curricular activities be encouraged.

Health-promoting lifestyle and body mass index among College of Nursing students in Kuwait: a correlational study

This cross-sectional, descriptive survey of 202 nursing students in Kuwait assessed their body mass index and health-promoting lifestyle to determine any association between them. The body mass index was calculated by dividing the weight by the height squared (kg/m(2)). The health-promoting lifestyle was measured using Walker's Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II instrument. The participants had a normal body mass index with a tendency towards being overweight and obese, particularly for the males. The students also had a low positive health-promoting lifestyle. A significant association was noted between the sociodemographic variables, particularly age, marital status, and nationality, with the body mass index and Walker's Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile. A significant relationship was established between the body mass index and the overall Walker's Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile and the nutrition subcategory. The findings warranted interventions for improved health behaviors and implied the need for the integration of healthy lifestyle programs into the nursing curricula to meet the escalating demands of the students' role in health promotion and disease prevention.

A qualitative study exploring the relationship between nursing and health promotion language, theory and practice

The definitions and meaning qualified nurses employed in an acute NHS hospital setting in the UK gave to health education and health promotion practice and how these fitted established language and theory were investigated qualitatively. These concepts, and the concomitant frameworks and models of practice, have been the subject of considerable debate in the literature. While unresolved both in general and in nursing, a degree of theoretical convergence was established in the 1990s [Bunton, R., Macdonald, G., 1992. Health promotion: disciplines and diversity. Routledge, London; Maben, J.M., Macleod Clark, J. 1995. Health promotion: a concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing 22, 1158-165] helped by The Ottawa Charter [WHO, 1986. Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. http://www.who.int/hpr/archive/docs/ottawa.html]. For many of the participants in this study however, the meanings given to these concepts and the predominant use of health education were inconsistent with much of the language of the wider debate and this has potential implications for nurse education. For, if the findings are considered transferable then there is a need to develop education strategies and curricula that articulate the ideological foundations of policy and practice and to use mainstream terminology to assist nurses both to understand and contribute to the contemporary health promotion debate.

Reviewing health promotion in nursing education

The [World Health Organisation, 2000. Nurse and Midwives for Health: A WHO European Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery Education. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen] European Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery Education calls for the explicit inclusion and application of health promotion in all nursing curricula. Prior to this strategy, and subsequently, studies have explored the nature and extent of health promotion in nursing education. This article extensively reviews this body of literature. Overall, the literature, both included in this review and its supporting discussion, presents a picture suggesting that the call for effective inclusion of health promotion has in many cases gone unheeded. The literature also identifies that the educational delivery of broader elements of health promotion is muted in comparison to the 'traditional' constructs of health education. Considerations for wider reform, born out of the literature, are presented.