Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

‘Do as I say, but not as I do’: are next generation nurses role models for health?

Blake, Holly; Malik, Sumaira; Mo, Phoenix K. H.; Pisano, Charlotte

Authors

Profile Image

HOLLY BLAKE holly.blake@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Behavioural Medicine

Sumaira Malik

Phoenix K. H. Mo

Charlotte Pisano



Abstract

Aim: Promoting healthy lifestyles plays a key role in professional nursing yet nurses do not always practice what they preach. Efforts are currently being made to improve the health of NHS staff, yet little is known about the health and lifestyle behaviours of pre-registration nurses in the UK although these individuals are our next generation of NHS employees. The aim of this study was to investigate the health behaviours and wellbeing of pre-registration nurses based at an acute NHS teaching hospital in England.

Methods: In this cross-sectional questionnaire survey, 325 pre-registration nurses (50% response rate) completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire, measuring levels of physical activity, smoking and alcohol behaviour, dietary practices and general health.
Results: Age ranged from 19-53 years, and 96% of the sample was female. More than half of the sample did not meet public health recommendations for physical activity. Just under one-fifth were current smokers and over three-quarters did not consume five servings of fruit/vegetables per day. Two-thirds reported exceeding the recommended maximum daily alcohol intake and around one third were classified as either overweight or obese. Those who were physically inactive were less likely to report good general health, good dietary practices and more sleep, and were more likely to report cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption than their active counterparts.

Conclusions: This study indicates that the health profile of pre-registration nurses is relatively poor, and that those who are sedentary engage in other negative lifestyle behaviours also. Despite significant education relating to health promotion and health behaviours of patients being targeted at pre-registered nurses, it seems that this knowledge is not always transferred to their own behaviour. There is a need for timely intervention to establish healthy lifestyle behaviours amongst nurses early in their career.

Citation

Blake, H., Malik, S., Mo, P. K. H., & Pisano, C. (2011). ‘Do as I say, but not as I do’: are next generation nurses role models for health?. Perspectives in Public Health, 131(5), 231-239. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913911402547

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 1, 2011
Online Publication Date Sep 9, 2011
Publication Date Sep 1, 2011
Deposit Date Nov 9, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Perspectives in Public Health
Print ISSN 1757-9139
Electronic ISSN 1757-9147
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 131
Issue 5
Pages 231-239
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913911402547
Keywords Nurses; Health; Physical activity; Lifestyle
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1239052
Publisher URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1757913911402547
Additional Information Copyright © 2011 by SAGE Publications

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations