Start healthy and stay healthy: A workplace health promotion intervention for new graduate nurses: A mixed-methods study
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Volume
78
Issue
2
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery / Centre for Research in Aged Care
RAS ID
42732
Funders
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
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.
DOI
10.1111/jan.15116
Access Rights
subscription content
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