Abstract
BackgroundDespite the numerous benefits associated with physical activity (PA), most nurses are not active enough and few interventions have been developed to promote PA among nurses. A secondary analysis of raw data from a single-centre, three-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess whether work-related characteristics and general mood states predict changes in total weekly moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and average daily step-count among nurses participating in a 6-week web-based worksite intervention.MethodsSeventy nurses (meanage: 46.1 ± 11.2 years) were randomized to an individual-, friend-, or team-based PA challenge. Participants completed questionnaires pre- and post-intervention assessing work-related characteristics (i.e., shift schedule and length, number of hours worked per week, work role) and general mood states (i.e., tension, depression, anger, confusion, fatigue, vigour). Participants received a PA monitor to wear before and during the 6-week PA challenge, which was used to assess total weekly MVPA minutes and average daily step-count. Data were analyzed descriptively and using multilevel modeling for repeated measures.ResultsChange in total weekly MVPA minutes, but not change in average daily step-count, was predicted by shift schedule (rotating vs. fixed) by time (estimate = − 17.43, SE = 6.18, p = .006), and work role (clinical-only vs. other) by time (estimate = 18.98, SE = 6.51, p = .005). General mood states did not predict change in MVPA or change in average daily step-count.ConclusionsGiven that nurses who work rotating shifts and perform clinical work showed smaller improvements in MVPA, it may be necessary to consider work-related factors/barriers (e.g., time constraints, fatigue) and collaborate with nurses when designing and implementing MVPA interventions in the workplace.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04524572. August 24, 2020. This trial was registered retrospectively. This study adheres to the CONSORT 2010 statement guidelines.
Highlights
Despite the numerous benefits associated with physical activity (PA), most nurses are not active enough and few interventions have been developed to promote PA among nurses
The purpose of this study was to assess whether work-related characteristics and mood states predicted changes in total weekly moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and average daily step-count among nurses who participated in a 6-week web-based worksite intervention
The fixed estimates of our unconditional multilevel growth models indicated that there was a significant intercept and linear and quadratic slopes for total weekly MVPA minutes, indicating change over time in a curvilinear fashion, whereby an initial increase in MVPA minutes was followed by a decrease
Summary
Despite the numerous benefits associated with physical activity (PA), most nurses are not active enough and few interventions have been developed to promote PA among nurses. Nurses play important and valued roles in society, they do so at considerable cost to their physical and mental health. Many investigations suggest that nurses experience poor mental health [1, 3, 4], with several studies showing elevated levels of depression, emotional distress, and stress among nurses [2, 5,6,7]. Poor physical and mental health may lead nurses to be absent from work. Experts estimate that health-related absenteeism among nurses costs the Canadian healthcare system nearly 1 billion dollars annually [8]. Most healthcare efforts are focused on patient-care, and nurses who play a pivotal role in providing such care, receive limited support to prevent and manage the potential negative health consequences of nursing
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