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

Schneider, Anna; Bak, Marieke; Mahoney, Catherine; Hoyle, Louise; Ba, Kelly; Atherton, Iain M; Kyle, Richard G

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 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 preventative behaviours (physical activity and fruit/vegetable intake) compared to the general working population. Other healthcare professionals had the lowest level of harmful health behaviours and highest level of preventative health behaviours. Health-related behaviours were poorest among unregistered care workers

Citation

Schneider, A., Bak, M., Mahoney, C., Hoyle, L., Ba, K., Atherton, I. M., & Kyle, R. G. (2019). Health-related behaviors of nurses and other healthcare professionals: a cross-sectional study using the Scottish Health Survey. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(6), 1239-1251. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13926

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 13, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Dec 10, 2018
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Deposit Date: Nov 19, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 10, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0309-2402
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 75
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1239-1251
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13926
• Keywords: Health Behaviours; Health promotion; Epidemiology; Lifestyle; Nutrition; Smoking; Physical Activity; Workforce Issues; Nurses; Care Workers
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1369430