Start healthy and stay healthy: A workplace health promotion intervention for new graduate nurses: A mixed-methods study

Abstract

Aims: This study explored the acceptability of a workplace health promotion inter-vention embedded into a transition to practice (TTP) programme to assist new gradu-ate nurses in establishing healthy dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviours from career commencement Design: A sequential mixed methods design. Methods: The Start Healthy and Stay Healthy (SH&SH) intervention, informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel, was conducted in an Australian Local Health District. It in-cluded face-to- face education sessions, the use of a fitness tracker and twice-weekly short answer messages. Participants completed three online surveys: at orientation, 6 weeks and 6 months. A sub-sample participated in semi-structured interviews to ex-plore their experience of the intervention. Interview data were analysed thematically. Results: The intervention was delivered from February to December 2019. A total of 99 nurses completed the baseline survey, 62 at 6 weeks and 69 at 6 months. After 6 months, health knowledge increased as participants correctly identified rec-ommended amounts of fruits, vegetables and PA. Fruit consumption increased at 6 months with little change to vegetable intake. Takeaway consumption decreased, but consumption of some discretionary foods increased. Across the three time points, there was a low engagement in PA during leisure time. The interviews identified three themes: (1) Support of Colleagues and Peers, (2) The Work Environment and (3) Engagement with SH&SH. Conclusion: Providing a targeted intervention for new graduate nurses embedded into a TTP programme improved their health knowledge, some dietary behaviours, and participation in PA by some participants. Impact: Ensuring a healthy nursing workforce is critical to retaining staff. Implementing a workplace health promotion intervention that targets new graduate nurses can help them adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours to support them in their future careers.

RAS ID

42732

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2022

Volume

78

Issue

2

Funding Information

Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship

School

School of Nursing and Midwifery / Centre for Research in Aged Care

Copyright

subscription content

Publisher

Wiley

Comments

Brogan, E., Rossiter, C., Fethney, J., Duffield, C., & Denney‐Wilson, E. (2022). Start healthy and stay healthy: A workplace health promotion intervention for new graduate nurses: A mixed‐methods study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(2), 541-556. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15116

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1111/jan.15116