Impact of a pedometer program on nurses working in a health-promoting hospital

Health Care Manag (Frederick). 2014 Apr-Jun;33(2):172-80. doi: 10.1097/HCM.0000000000000010.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to describe the impact of a pedometer-based activity program on a subset of nurses in a university-affiliated, multisite health care center in Canada. This study used a longitudinal design with preintervention-postintervention (8 weeks) and follow-up (6 months). At baseline, 60 nurses participated; 51 (85%) remained for the postprogram assessment and 33 (55%) also completed the follow-up questionnaire. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires (weight, height, fatigue, insomnia, stress and step data) and blood tests (total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). At postprogram, participants reported 12 thinsp;912 steps on average per day. At follow-up, 79% of participants indicated that they maintained their physical activity after the pedometer program. A significant decrease in insomnia was evident in postprogram scores compared with baseline scores, and this decrease was maintained at follow-up. A significant decrease in minutes spent sitting per week was also observed from baseline to postprogram and also maintained at follow-up. Participants' stress and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased from baseline to postprogram (marginally significant). Finally, their weight decreased from baseline to follow-up (marginally significant). The pedometer program generated some positive outcomes for nurses after 6 months.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actigraphy / methods
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Fatigue / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital*
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult