Impact of a pedometer program on nurses working in a health-promoting hospital.
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.
Author Affiliations: FERASI Program, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, and McGill University Health Centre (Dr Lavoie-Tremblay), Montréal, Québec; Behavioural Sciences and Health Research Division, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario (Dr Trudel); and School of Nursing, McGill University (Drs Sounan and Lavigne); Health Human Resource, McGill University Health Centre (Dr Sounan and Ms Martin); and Clinical Research, McGill Cardiovascular Health Improvement Program (Dr Lowensteyn), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Mélanie
M
Lavoie-Tremblay
Charles
C
Sounan
Julie G
JG
Trudel
Geneviève L
GL
Lavigne
Kara
K
Martin
Ilka
I
Lowensteyn
D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult