Health-related behaviours of nurses and other healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study using the Scottish Health Survey

J Adv Nurs. 2019 Jun;75(6):1239-1251. doi: 10.1111/jan.13926. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the prevalence and co-occurrence of health-related behaviours among nurses in Scotland relative to other healthcare workers and those in non-healthcare occupations.

Design: Secondary analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional data, reported following STROBE guidelines.

Methods: Five rounds (2008-2012) of the Scottish Health Survey were aggregated to estimate the prevalence and co-occurrence of health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake). The weighted sample (n = 18,820) included 471 nurses (3%), 433 other healthcare professionals (2%), 813 unregistered care workers (4%), and 17,103 in non-healthcare occupations (91%). Logistic regression models compared the prevalence of specific health-related behaviours and principal component analysis assessed co-occurrence of health-related behaviours between occupational groups.

Results: Nurses reported significantly better health-related behaviours relative to the general working population for smoking, fruit/vegetable intake, and physical activity. No significant difference was found for alcohol consumption between occupational groups. Nurses reported lower levels of harmful co-occurring behaviours (tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption) and higher levels of preventive behaviours (physical activity and fruit/vegetable intake) compared with the general working population. Other healthcare professionals had the lowest level of harmful health behaviours and the highest level of preventive health behaviours. Health-related behaviours were poorest among unregistered care workers.

Conclusion: Nurses' health-related behaviours were better than the general population but non-adherence to public health guidelines was concerning.

Impact: Nurses play an important role in health promotion through patient advice and role-modelling effects. To maximise their impact, healthcare providers should prioritise increasing access to healthy food, alcohol awareness, and smoking cessation programmes.

目的: 评估苏格兰护士相对于其他医护工作者和非医护职业的健康相关行为的患病率和共现率。 设计: 对具有全国代表性的横断面数据进行二次分析,并按照STROBE指南进行报告。 方法: 汇总苏格兰健康的五轮调查(2008-2012年),评估与身体健康相关行为(吸烟、饮酒、体育活动、水果/蔬菜摄入)导致的患病率和共现率。加权样本(n=18820)包括471名护士(3%),433名其他医疗专业人员(2%),813名未注册护理人员(4%)以及17103名非医疗职业人员(91%)。 逻辑回归模型比较了特定健康相关行为的患病率,主要成分分析评估了职业群体之间健康相关行为的共现率。 结果: 与一般工作人群相比,护士在吸烟、水果/蔬菜摄入和体育活动方面明显表现出更好的健康相关行为。职业组之间无显著的饮酒量差异。与一般工作人群相比,护士报告的有害健康行为(吸烟和饮酒)较少,保健行为(体育活动和水果/蔬菜摄入)较多。其他医疗专业人员的有害健康行为最少,预防健康行为最多。未登记医护人员的健康相关行为表现最差。 结论: 护士的健康相关行为多于普通人群,但与公共卫生指南无显著相关性。 影响: 通过给予患者建议和做出表率,护士在健康促进中发挥着重要作用。为了最大限度地发挥其影响,医疗护理提供者应优先考虑增加健康食品、戒酒意识和戒烟计划的获取机会。.

Keywords: care workers; epidemiology; health behaviours; health promotion; lifestyle; nurses; nutrition; physical activity; smoking; workforce issues.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet, Healthy / psychology*
  • Exercise / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Personnel / psychology*
  • Health Surveys / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Scotland
  • Smoking / psychology*
  • Socioeconomic Factors