Assessing the effect of physical activity and exercise on nurses' well-being

Nurses' occupational physical activity and workload in a perioperative intensive care unit in Slovenia

The field of nursing includes heavy occupational physical demands, including walking and standing for longer periods of time, in addition to moving and lifting. As such, in the context of a typical work shift, many nurses generally achieve the World Health Organization's recommended 10,000 steps per day. This study aimed at estimating the daily physical activity and workload of nurses in a perioperative intensive care unit. The data sources for this study included data from the hospital information system on various procedures and interventions, and the Silva Ex3 Plus pedometers for measuring steps, kilometers, calories, and activity time across various shifts in a perioperative intensive care unit. Twenty nurses from Slovenia volunteered to participate in this observational study. Over 13 weeks, a nurse working an 8-hour shift walked an average of 5,938 steps (4.4 km). However, nurses who worked a 12-hour weekend day shift came very close to the World Health Organization's recommendation with an average of 9,003 steps (6.5 km). A total of 227 patients were admitted and an average of 80 nursing interventions were performed per day and there was a positive relationship between physical activity, workload, and patient admissions in the perioperative intensive care unit (p = 0.001). Results of this study could help managers better understand nurses' physical activity and workload during various shifts in the perioperative intensive care unit.

Tackling change in mental health service delivery: A qualitative evaluation of a lifestyle program targeting mental health staff - Keeping our Staff in Mind (KoSiM)

ISSUES ADDRESSED

People with severe mental illness have adverse health outcomes compared to the general population. Lifestyle interventions are effective in improving health outcomes in this population. Current cultural processes in mental health services do not generally incorporate physical health care practices. Innovative education is required to improve knowledge and confidence of staff in the delivery of preventative health measures.

METHODS

The Keeping our Staff in Mind (KoSiM) program delivered a brief lifestyle intervention to mental health staff. A qualitative analysis following the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews designed to elicit information about the acceptability of the program and the impact of the intervention on participants' personal and professional lives. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, with coding independently developed and reviewed by three authors.

RESULTS

Of the 103 eligible participants, 75 were interviewed. Responses revealed four main themes: (i) positive changes in clinician's approach to physical health care, (ii) improvements in attitudes to self-care and family wellbeing, (iii) positive changes in workplace culture associated with physical health care delivery and (iv) high levels of acceptability of the program.

CONCLUSION

The KoSiM model may be useful in other settings as a means of changing the culture of mental health services to better integrate physical health care as a core part of mental health service provision. SO WHAT?: A novel approach using staff focussed lifestyle interventions model may cut through the resistance that is encountered when implementing proven methods of clinical intervention where cultural barriers exist.

The Relationship between Sociodemographic, Professional, and Incentive Factors and Self-Reported Level of Physical Activity in the Nurse Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Research indicates that while nurses are aware of the benefits of physical activity (PA), their adherence to PA is low. The results of workplace interventions that increase PA are inconsistent. The study aim was identification the sociodemographic, professional, and incentive factors influencing nurses’ PA and investigation its relationship with the level of PA that they report. This study was based on observational cross-sectional research conducted among professionally active nurses working in a clinical setting (n = 350). The self-reported questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and employment data and motivators and barriers of participating in PA. The level of PA was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The analysis revealed significant differences in the Total Physical Activity Score (TPAS) depending on the variables related to professional activity (working in a management position: p = 0.015; workplace: p = 0.01; shift type: p ≤ 0.002). Cluster analysis revealed that the most important statement in the group division about motivation was fear of the pain occurring after exercise. Nurses who were more motivated to be active showed a higher level of leisure-time PA than less motivated nurses. The recommendation of PA in the nursing population should be focused on increasing the leisure time PA, ensuring the appropriate time to recovery, and compliance with the principles of work ergonomics to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.

A human factors approach to evaluate predicators of acute care nurse occupational fatigue

Nurses function at the point of care and assume a significant role in intercepting errors. They work in a mentally and physically demanding profession that is comprised of shift-work, subjecting nurses to considerable fatigue. Yet, few studies constructed a comprehensive model that integrates personal and occupational factors to explore their relationship with various types of fatigue (acute, chronic, physical, mental, and total). Here, we examine this type of comprehensive fatigue-model, in a report that represents one aim of a larger, mixed-methods study. The study sample comprised of 1137 registered nurses working in eight hospitals in a Midwestern state. Nurses reported higher levels of acute and total fatigue than chronic and physical fatigue. Staffing and resource adequacy, exercise, and sleep were among the strongest predictors. Since fatigue is a multi-faceted construct, a comprehensive fatigue-management strategy that targets both day and night-shift nurses is the optimal way to manage nurse fatigue.

Health Behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life in Female Medical Staff

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the intensity of health behaviors and health-related quality of life in female mid-level medical staff. The study group consisted of 153 female mid-level medical staff members. The intensity of health behaviors was examined with the Polish version of Health Behavior Inventory. Health-related quality of life was verified with the Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF 36v2). Among the participants, 33% had low, 39% average, and 28% high intensity of health behaviors. The mental component of health-related quality of life was rated higher (83.3 ± 15.3 points) compared to the physical one. The lowest health-related quality of life was observed in the domain of “bodily pain”, while the highest was found for the domain of “social functioning”. Both the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life were significantly positively correlated with health behavior prevalence in all its categories. The post-hoc tests revealed the variation in physical and mental components of HRQoL according to the level of health behavior intensity.

NURSING STUDENTS’ LIFESTYLE AND RELATED FACTORS

ABSTRACT Objective: to determine nursing students’ lifestyle at a university in Mexico, according to personal factors and previous behaviors of Nola J. Pender’s Health Promotion Model. Method: this is a cross-sectional study developed at a public university of Minatitlán, Veracruz, Mexico, in 2019, with nursing students enrolled in the curricular internship course, totaling 130. Data were collected that include sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle and behavior characteristics through the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile I. We used Student’s t-tests, ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation for the analyses. Results: of the 130 participants, 92 (70.8%) were classified as healthy lifestyle and 38 (29.2%) had a moderately healthy lifestyle. Among the scale domains, the physical activity domain was the one with the lowest score. Negative correlations were found between the self-actualization domain and clinical variables, such as blood pressure, Body Mass Index and waist circumference, and also between this domain and the time of cell phone and television use. Conclusion: the lifestyle general classification of most participants was healthy, but the analyzes of the individual domains demonstrate the need for political and clinical interventions that influence nursing students’ health-promoting behaviors.

ESTILO DE VIDA DE ESTUDANTES DE ENFERMAGEM E FATORES RELACIONADOS

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar o estilo de vida de estudantes de enfermagem de uma Universidade no México, segundo fatores pessoais e comportamentos anteriores do Modelo de Promoção da Saúde de Nola J. Pender. Método: estudo transversal desenvolvido em uma Universidade Pública de Minatitlán, Veracruz, México, no ano 2019, com os estudantes de enfermagem matriculados na disciplina de estágio curricular, totalizando 130. Coletaram-se dados que incluem características sociodemográficas, clínicas e de estilo de vida e comportamento por meio da Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile I. Utilizaram-se os testes T de Student, Anova e correlação de Pearson para as análises. Resultados: dos 130 participantes, 92 (70,8%) foram classificados com estilo de vida saudável e 38 (29,2%) obtiveram estilo de vida moderadamente saudável. Entre os domínios da escala, o de exercício foi o de menor pontuação. Constataram-se correlações negativas entre o domínio autorrealização e variáveis clínicas, tais como pressão arterial, índice de massa corpórea e circunferência abdominal, e também entre esse domínio e o tempo de uso de celular e televisão. Conclusão: a classificação geral do estilo de vida da maioria dos participantes foi saudável, todavia as análises dos domínios individuais demonstram a necessidade de intervenções políticas e clínicas que influenciem os comportamentos promotores de saúde dos estudantes de enfermagem.

The Mediating Effect of Coping Style on Physical Activity and Negative Affect Caused by Public Health Emergencies: Evidence from Chinese College Students

In this study, we explored the relationship between physical activity (PA), coping style (CS) and negative affect caused by public health emergencies (PHENA), to examine if CS can play a mediating role between PA and PHENA, and analyzed the different effects of positive coping (PC) and negative coping (NC). Using the method of random sampling, 700 students from four universities in Beijing and Shanghai were recruited to complete questionnaires about PA, CS and PHENA. Data collection was conducted through online and offline questionnaires. Firstly, there is a significant correlation between PA, CS and PHENA. Secondly, PA can negatively predict PHENA, and PA has positive impact on PC and negative impact on NC. Thirdly, the mediating role of NC related to PHENA is significant, the mediating role of PC related to PHENA is not significant. College students’ participation in physical activity can reduce the probability of adopting negative coping mechanisms, thereby alleviating the PHENA.

Assessment of Cardiometabolic Health, Diet and Physical Activity in Helicopter Rescue Paramedics

Objective: Shift work is an established risk factor for weight gain, cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes mellitus, and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Prolonged exposure to shift work is common in paramedics and other emergency medical service (EMS) providers. Sub-populations of EMS workers may have varying health outcomes when exposed to shift work, but the reasons for this have not been investigated. We sought to describe cardiometabolic health, dietary patterns, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of experienced intensive care flight paramedics (ICFPs) working for a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).Methods: Fifteen paramedics (median age 45, IQR 42-48 years) were recruited to undertake a range of health assessments. These included a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary patterns, sampling of biomarkers to determine cardiometabolic health risk, maximal aerobic capacity assessment via treadmill running and assessment of HRQoL via the SF-36 survey. In an extension of the study protocol, ten of the fifteen participants wore a physical activity monitor for one year.Results: Median (IQR) weight was 79.9 (72.3-89.3) kg, body fat percentage 23.3 (21.9-26.5) %, body mass index (BMI) 25.1 (21.9-27.4) kg.m², and waist to height ratio 0.48 (0.45-0.54). Dietary analyses showed high discretionary food intake. Biomarkers of cardiometabolic health risk were all within normal range. HRQoL was 86.2/100 for physical health and 85.1/100 for mental health. V̇O_2max was 47.0 (43.0-54.6) mL.kg^-1.min^-1. The ten participants that wore activity monitors completed 11,235 (8334-15,380) steps per day and undertook 50 (12-98) minutes per day/350 (84-686) minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The least amount of physical activity was conducted on day shifts.Conclusions: For ICFPs included in this study, HRQoL, cardiometabolic and physical activity outcomes are representative of good health. Although shift work influences the amount of physical activity, ICFPs exceeded minimum recommendations even when rostered to duty. Despite lengthy careers in EMS, ICFPs demonstrate an excellent health profile that is likely due to high physical activity levels and healthy BMI. This information may be useful in guiding health interventions in the wider EMS workforce.

Risky Behaviour among Nurses in Poland: An Analysis of Nurses' Physical Condition, Mental Health, and Resilience

Background: Nursing is a profession where staff are exposed to chronic stress. Mental resilience plays a significant role in the process of coping with these challenges. The aim of this study was to assess nurses' mental and physical wellbeing, as well as resilience, by taking into account the occurrence of risky behaviour among nurses in Poland. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out between June 2017 and May 2018 among nurses (n = 1080) employed in primary healthcare or in training centres in Silesia, Poland. Data were obtained from a number of questionnaires. Results: Over half of the nurses (n = 735; 68%) had an average psychophysical mood level resulting from stress, and 179 (16.6%) nurses had a low psychophysical mood. Those with a lower psychophysical mood showed a greater tendency towards developing improper eating habits (r = -0.23; p < 0.001). Most nurses had an average (n = 649; 60.1%) or low (n = 255; 23.6%) level of resilience. Higher resilience levels were observed in nurses aged over 30 years (p = 0.004) and in those with additional employment (p = 0.008). High resilience was associated with a lower intensity of risky behaviour. Conclusion: Most nurses in Poland display average and low levels of resilience, which can have unfavourable consequences for their health.