Physical activities and influencing factors among public health nurses: a cross-sectional study

Differences between Health and Non-Health Science Students in Lifestyle Habits, Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to investigate lifestyle habits in health and non-health science students from the University of Split, Croatia, and to evaluate their association with perceived stress and psychological well-being. We surveyed 783 students during February-March 2021. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used in the analysis. Health science students spent less time using screens, were sitting less, slept less, but also showed better compliance with the Mediterranean diet compared to non-health science students (10.6% vs. 5.9%). There were no differences in stress and well-being perception between the two study groups. Female gender, lack of sleep, less daily sitting time, anxiety, and lower optimism were associated with higher stress in non-health science students, while anxiousness and more sitting were found to be significant among health students. Well-being among health science students was positively associated with BMI, having had COVID-19, being refreshed after waking up during working days, Mediterranean diet adherence, health perception, optimism, and quality of life, and negatively with TV time and anxiousness. Shorter sleep duration on non-working days, feeling refreshed after waking up on non-working days, higher quality of life and optimism, and lower anxiousness were associated with higher well-being among non-health students. Identifying unhealthy lifestyle habits in students is essential for implementing targeted interventions to better their health outcomes.

Psychosocial factors and physical activity among workers in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Complex behaviors, such as physical activity (PA), may be related to different levels of influence.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the role of social support, mood and alcohol consumption as psychosocial predictors on the engagement in PA among Brazilian workers.

METHODS

This is a quantitative, cross-sectional analytical study. A sample of 395 participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), the Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Social Support Scale for Physical Activities (SSSPA) and the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS).

RESULTS

Analysis via Pearson's Correlation Test indicated a negative correlation between PA and depression and fatigue, and a positive correlation between PA and alcohol consumption, vigor and the four variables of social support (support of family members for walking; support of friends for walking; support of family members for moderate and vigorous physical activity; support of friends for moderate and vigorous physical activity). A positive relationship between PA and low-risk alcohol consumption was also identified. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that family support for walking, friends support for moderate and vigorous physical activity, vigor and alcohol consumption are predictors of PA. Hayes' moderation analysis indicated that social support has a moderating effect on the relationship between alcohol use and PA.

CONCLUSION

Different factors may be involved in engaging in PA. A broader approach that addresses the singularities of individuals, especially in actions for different patterns of alcohol consumption, is recommended.

Does Sports Industry Matter in Human Wellbeing: Evidence From China?

It is widely considered that sport and physical activities contribute to the development of human wellbeing. It is a fact that sport brings positive energy, discipline, and human wellbeing. Sports have an enormous effect on human health. Therefore, we assess the effects of the sports industry on the human health of China by using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach from 1998 to 2020. Findings show that sports activities significantly improve human health and wellbeing. Tourism has found a positive influence on health and helped to contribute to human wellbeing. Empirical results prove that health expenditure and financial development significantly increase the population health in China. China's government should focus on the sports and tourism industry to play an important role in human health and wellbeing.

Nursing workplace and its relation to occupational health outcomes and physical activity

BACKGROUND

Working in hospitals entails several risks to nurses. A better nursing workplace can help in improving physical activity and reducing adverse occupational health outcomes among nurses.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the relationships of the nursing workplace with occupational health outcomes and physical activity.

METHODS

A cross-sectional correlation study was conducted with 623 nurses. Data were collected through report self-administered questionnaires that included employment and occupational conditions, hospital workplace environment, and adverse occupational health outcomes as well as physical activity pattern.

RESULTS

The current study showed that the nursing workplace environment and conditions had a negative effect on occupational health outcomes and physical activity among nurses in the study units. Nurses in this study reported a high prevalence of low back pain (82.7%), burnout (78.3%), and occupational injuries (70.5%). They also reported insufficient physical activities (90.6%). High prevalence of burnout and low back pain were associated with low levels of physical activities among nurses.

CONCLUSION

A fair working environment and conditions have been implicated as a causative factor of negative occupational health outcomes and limitations of physical activity among nurses. Adverse occupational health outcomes also affect the nurses engaging in physical activity.

An Analysis and Evaluation of the Theory of Planned Behavior Using Fawcett and DeSanto-Madeya's Framework

The theory of planned behavior has been prominently applied in nursing, but no known critique of the theory has been published. Using Fawcett and Desanto-Madeya's framework, we scrutinized and assessed the theory to determine its appropriateness for nursing investigations of behavior. The theory makes explicit assertions regarding human social behavior, incorporating some nursing metaparadigm concepts. Although not derived from the discipline, the theory's scope, content, and context are relevant to nursing, and its significance to nursing research and practice is clear. Studies incorporating all the theory's concepts and relationships are needed to confirm its testability and empirical and pragmatic adequacy.

Women's heart health: a focus on nurses' physical activity and sedentary behaviour

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review focuses on recent literature examining and targeting the physical activity and sedentary behaviour of nurses. The role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in preventing and managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women is also discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nurses (most of whom are women) represent the largest professional group within the health care workforce and many present with risk factors for CVD (e.g. physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, overweight/obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, depression, anxiety). Several studies have measured the physical activity and sedentary behaviour of nurses and found low levels of physical activity (i.e. most do not meet physical activity guidelines) and high levels of sedentary behaviour (50-60% of the day). Nurses working rotating shifts, 12-h shifts and/or working full-time or part-time (vs. casual) may be at greater risk of physical inactivity; however, the opposite has been observed for sedentary behaviour. Few interventions targeting nurses' physical activity levels have shown promise, but those that have used activity monitors with behavioural strategies; no studies, to date, have evaluated the impact of sedentary behaviour interventions in nurses.

SUMMARY

Improving the physical activity levels and reducing the sedentary behaviour of nurses is important for nurses' cardiovascular health. There is a need for interventions to address low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour among nurses.