An intervention program to promote health-related physical fitness in nurses.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of exercise intervention on nurses' health-related physical fitness.


BACKGROUND
Regular exercise that includes gymnastics or aerobics has a positive effect on fitness. In Taiwan, there are not much data which assess the effects of exercise intervention on nurses' health-related physical fitness. Many studies have reported the high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in nurses However, there has been limited research on intervention programs that are designed to improve the general physical fitness of nurses.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental study was conducted at a medical centre in central Taiwan.


METHODS
Ninety nurses from five different units of a hospital volunteered to participate in this study and participated in an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group engaged in a three-month intervention program consisting of treadmill exercise. Indicators of the health-related physical fitness of both groups were established and assessed before and after the intervention.


RESULTS
Before intervention, the control group had significantly better grasp strength, flexibility and durability of abdominal muscles than the experimental group (p < 0.05). After the intervention, logistic regression was used to adjust for marital status, work duration, regular exercise and workload and found that the experimental group performed significantly better (p < 0.05) on body mass index, grasp strength, flexibility, durability of abdominal and back muscles and cardiopulmonary function.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the development and implementation of an intervention program can promote and improve the health-related physical fitness of nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that nurses engage in an exercise program while in the workplace to lower the risk of MSDs and to promote working efficiency.
Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Su-Chuan
SC
Yuan
Ming-Chih
MC
Chou
Lien-Jen
LJ
Hwu
Yin-O
YO
Chang
Wen-Hsin
WH
Hsu
Hsien-Wen
HW
Kuo
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan