A preliminary study of a healthy-lifestyle-promoting program for nursing students in Taiwan

Health-promoting lifestyle and its predictors among health-related and non-health-related university students in Taiwan: a cross-sectional quantitative study

BACKGROUND

University students majoring in different disciplines are believed to have different personality traits, courses exposure, and future roles, which may further affect their health behaviors and health status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) and its predictors among health-related and non-health-related students.

METHODS

The research participants were university students in the main island of Taiwan, and a two-stage sampling approach was adopted to obtain the samples from November 2020 to March 2021. First, 37 universities were randomly selected based on the ratio of public and private universities in each region of Taiwan. Then, based on the ratio of health-related and non-health-related majors of selected university, 25-30 students were randomly drawn from each university according to the student ID number to complete self-administered questionnaires, which included items for personal factors, perceived health status (PHS), health conception (HC), and health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP). A total of 1062 valid questionnaires were recovered, including 458 from health-related students and 604 from non-health-related students. Chi-squared test, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson product-moment correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

The results showed that gender (p < 0.001), residential status (p = 0.023), body mass index (p = 0.016), and daily sleep duration (p = 0.034) of the students majoring in different disciplines were different. Health-related students having better HC (p = 0.002) and HPLP (p = 0.040) than non-health-related students. In addition, for both majors, females, low PHS scores, and low scores for functional/role, clinical, and eudaimonistic dimensions of HC were important indicators of a relatively negative HPLP, while health-related students who exercised 75 min or less per week and non-health-related students with a monthly disposable income of 15,000 TWD or less or who dined out 15 times or more per week also required attention in the promotion of HPL (health-related majors: adjusted R² = 0.481, p < 0.001; non-health-related majors: adjusted R² = 0.443, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Students majoring in each discipline who had poor HPLP which is mentioned above should be prioritized in the provision of appropriate exercise or nutritional support programs on campus to promote their awareness and ability to pay attention to their health.

A multisite transition to nursing program: an innovative approach to facilitate incoming nursing students' academic success

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate effectiveness of a multisite program promoting the successful transition of baccalaureate and graduate entry (with a prior degree) students into pre-licensure curricula. Faculty concern around nursing students' successful completion of nursing programs and passage of the nursing licensure exam stems from challenges students encounter in core courses, study habits, and civility.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-five students participated in a quasi-experimental pre-post-test mixed-methods study. Students completed content modules and open-ended surveys.

RESULTS

Most students found the program helpful. Statistically significant improvements were shown in medication calculation, reading comprehension, and medical terminology. No statistically significant improvement was shown in anatomy and physiology.

CONCLUSIONS

Our Transition to Nursing program shows promise and adds to proactive strategies in preparing students for a successful transition into nursing programs. Our innovative approach may serve as a model to nursing schools and colleges around the world to promote student success.

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.

Analysis of the Lifestyle of Spanish Undergraduate Nursing Students and Comparison with Students of Other Degrees

Background: Nursing students are exposed to concepts of healthy lifestyles while they are attending university. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze whether nursing students have a healthier lifestyle than non-nursing students and to determine whether their behaviour is consistent with their beliefs. Methods: A cross-sectional study, with 293 university students was performed by using a validated questionnaire to measure beliefs and behaviour regarding health. Results: The lifestyle pattern of the nursing students evaluated was characterised by a high percentage of nurses with low levels of physical activity, poor balanced diet and smoking habits. The comparative analysis showed no significant differences between nursing students and students from other degrees. Conclusions: Students have a positive attitude and knowledge about healthy lifestyle, but do not transfer it to their own lives. Nurses’ lifestyle can unintentionally affect the behaviour of other people through their own behaviour and beliefs because they serve as a model for a healthy lifestyle. These findings support that nurse educators have an active role as promoter of health by using lessons to modify the behaviour of their students.

Novel Physical Fitness Fuzzy Evaluation Model for Individual Health Promotion

Physical fitness level plays a significant role in health promotion. Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscle power, and flexibility are the four key indicators of physical fitness level, listed as one of the important fields of preventive medicine. Some studies targeted at students, based on statistical inference, have put forward a set of physical fitness evaluation methods to see whether they have reached the level of healthy physical fitness. Testing and monitoring of individual physical fitness takes up little time and requires a small sample dataset; this paper hence proposed an evaluation and analysis model that suits individual physical fitness by means of a fuzzy evaluation method suitable for evaluating small sample datasets. This paper developed the evaluation model based on the upper confidence limit of the physical fitness evaluation index so that it could reduce the risk of misjudgment caused by sampling error. At the same time, a simple and easy-to-use fuzzy evaluation form was developed as an evaluation interface, which can present the whole picture of all evaluation indicators as well as have good and convenient management performance. Accordingly, it can help every individual simultaneously monitor multiple physical fitness indicators to ensure that each physical fitness index can meet the requirement of healthy physical fitness.

Factors affecti̇ng health-promoting behavi̇ors i̇n nursi̇ng students: A structural equation modeling approach

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction program applied to a sample of Turkish nursing students.

METHOD

The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Program sessions of 90-95 minutes were given twice a week for 12 weeks. The data were collected using the Nursing Education Stress Scale, the Mindfulness Scale, and the Stress Management Styles Scale.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was found in the mean post-test and mean follow-up scores obtained by the control group and the experimental group on the Nursing Education Stress Scale and its sub-dimensions. On the Mindfulness Scale, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean pre-test and post-test scores obtained by the experiment and control groups.

CONCLUSION

The results derived from this study suggest that the mindfulness-based stress reduction program is effective in reducing the stress experienced by students during nursing education, increasing their mindfulness, strengthening their coping mechanisms for stress, increasing their use of self-confident and optimistic approaches, and decreasing their use of the helpless approach.

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.

Nurses as role models in health promotion: a concept analysis

There are national and international expectations that nurses are healthy role models; however, there is a lack of clarity about what this concept means. This study used concept analysis methodology to provide theoretical clarity for the concept of role models in health promoting behaviour for registered nurses and students. The framework included analysis of literature and qualitative data from six focus groups and one interview. Participants (n=39) included pre-registration students (adult field), nurse lecturers and registered nurses (RNs), working in NHS Trusts across London and South East London. From the findings, being a role model in health promoting behaviour involves being an exemplar, portraying a healthy image (being fit and healthy), and championing health and wellness. Personal attributes of a role model in health promoting behaviour include being caring, non-judgemental, trustworthy, inspiring and motivating, self-caring, knowledgeable and self-confident, innovative, professional and having a deep sense of self.

The Evidence in Support of Physicians and Health Care Providers as Physical Activity Role Models

Physical inactivity constitutes the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Health care providers (HCPs) should play a key role in counseling and appropriately referring their patients to adopt physical activity (PA). Previous reports suggest that active HCPs are more likely to provide better, more credible, and motivating preventive counseling to their patients. This review summarizes the available evidence on the association between HCPs' personal PA habits and their related PA counseling practices. Based on relevant studies, a snowball search strategy identified, out of 196 studies screened, a total of 47 pertinent articles published between 1979 and 2012. Of those, 23 described HCPs' PA habits and/or their counseling practices and 24 analytic studies evaluated the association between HCPs' personal PA habits and their PA counseling practices. The majority of studies came from the United States (n = 33), and 9 studies included nonphysicians (nurses, pharmacists, and other HCPs). PA levels were mostly self-reported, and counseling was typically assessed as self-reported frequency or perceived self-efficacy in clinical practice. Most (19 out of 24) analytic studies reported a significant positive association between HCPs' PA habits and counseling frequency, with odds ratios ranging between 1.4 and 5.7 (P < .05), in 6 studies allowing direct comparison. This review found consistent evidence supporting the notion that physically active physicians and other HCPs are more likely to provide PA counseling to their patients and can indeed become powerful PA role models. This evidence appears sufficient to justify randomized trials to determine if adding interventions to promote PA among HCPs, also results in improvements in the frequency and quality of PA preventive counseling and referrals, delivered by HCPs, to patients in primary care settings. Future studies should also aim at objectively quantifying the effect of HCPs' PA role-modeling and how it influences patients' PA levels. More evidence from low-to-middle income countries is needed, where 80% of the deaths due to inactivity and related noncommunicable diseases already occur.

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.

Eating, activity, and supportive environment (EASE) for nursing students

PURPOSE

The feasibility study was designed as a potential model for prevention of obesity at a large college of nursing in the Southwest.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretest median body mass index was 30.4 in the intervention group and 30.5 in the control group, indicating obesity in the student sample. There were no significant changes in posttest measures in the small sample. The thigh circumference change in the experimental group trended toward change with significance of .06.

IMPLICATION

The American Nursing Association launched a Healthy Nurse program in 2012, as healthy nurses are role models for a healthy nation. Updating nursing curriculum and active participation of students in weight management programs will promote their own health and positive role modeling.

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.

How healthy are our nurses? New and registered nurses compared

This study examined the health behaviour of nursing staff, comparing registered and pre-registered nurses in terms of their self-reported health and lifestyle behaviour. In total, 325 pre-registered nurses and 551 registered nurses, based at the same university teaching hospital and located within an acute NHS trust, completed a self-administered health and lifestyle questionnaire survey. With the exception of smoking behaviour, registered nurses generally had a healthier lifestyle compared with pre-registered nurses. However, when examining the overall health profile of the sample, the study reveals that there is room for improvement in the health and lifestyle behaviour exhibited by both registered and pre-registered nurses. Almost half of the sample failed to meet public health recommendations for levels of physical activity, almost two-thirds did not consume five portions of fruit or vegetables daily and almost half ate foods that were high in fat and sugar content on a daily basis. These findings are alarming given the current government emphasis on the health of NHS staff and the important role that nurses play in influencing lifestyle choices among their patients. There is an urgent need to target education and support services to improve the diet and exercise habits of nursing professionals.

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.

Relationships Among Nurses’ Professional Self-Concept, Health, and Lifestyles

According to the American Nurses Association, the entire profession of nursing exists to serve and improve society’s health. Thus, to become a nurse, individuals must master a body of knowledge surrounding numerous health aspects. While acquiring the unique knowledge, skills, and values of their profession, nurses form perceptions of personal adequacy in their role, known as professional or nurse self-concept. Given the centrality of health to the profession, it would seem logical that nurses would personally value health and integrate core health behaviors into their professional self-concept and everyday lives. Yet the prevailing evidence leaves in question whether nurses associate their personal health and lifestyles with their professional roles. This article explores the relationships among nurse self-concept, health status, and healthy lifestyle practices in a sample of Midwestern nurses in an attempt to better understand if nurses who integrate healthy behaviors into their everyday lives feel a stronger sense of professional adequacy relative to nurses who do not.

Health promotion lifestyle profile-II: Chinese version short form

AIM

This paper is a report of an examination of the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile.

BACKGROUND

The Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile, a well-known instrument measuring health promotion lifestyle behaviours and developed by Walker in 1987 and later refined, has been translated into several languages. The original Chinese translated version, based on Walker's 48-item 1987 version, detected six dimensions of health promotion lifestyle behaviours. The 52-item revised Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II has not been tested for Mandarin-speakers.

METHOD

After the English version of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II was translated into Chinese using established forward-backward translation procedures, the psychometric properties of the translated version were determined with 331 Taiwanese Mandarin-speaking adults. Data were collected from August 2007 to July 2008 at outpatient clinics for health screening in Southern Taiwan. The psychometric properties of the instrument were evaluated, including the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, item analysis and factor analysis.

RESULTS

Neither Walker's original 6-factor model nor a forced 6-factor solution of the 52 items of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II was supported. Parallel analysis suggested that five factors be retained, with the 5-factor solution statistically and conceptually satisfactory. The 5-factor Chinese version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile explained 53% of the variance in healthy lifestyles. Thirty items were retained for the Chinese version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile.

DISCUSSION

Deletion of 22 items from the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II did not impair the ability of the Chinese version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile to measure a healthy lifestyle among a sample of Taiwanese adults. The data support the fact that lifestyle is influenced by culture.

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.

Correlation of the health-promoting lifestyle, enrollment level, and academic performance of College of Nursing students in Kuwait

This descriptive study of 224 nursing students assessed their health-promoting lifestyle profile and correlated it with the levels of enrollment in nursing courses and academic performance. The health-promoting lifestyle profile was measured by Walker's Health-promoting Lifestyle Profile II instrument. Academic performance was measured by assessing the nursing grade point average and general grade point average of the students. The students had positive health-promoting lifestyles with significant differences noted between males and females in the overall profile, physical activity, interpersonal relations, and stress management. Sociodemographic variables, such as age, nationality, and marital status, but not income, showed an association with students' health-promoting lifestyles. A significant correlation was noted between students' nursing enrollment and level of health responsibility. No significant correlation was established between a health-promoting lifestyle and academic performance. This study poses a challenge for nurse educators to provide an effective environment to maximize students' potential to be future vanguards of health.