Image1.JPEG
A disconcerting proportion of Canadian nurses are physically inactive and report poor cardiovascular health. Web-based interventions incorporating feedback and group features may represent opportune, convenient, and cost-effective methods for encouraging physical activity (PA) in order to improve the levels of PA and cardiovascular health of nurses. The purpose of this parallel-group randomized trial was to examine the impact of an intervention providing participants with feedback from an activity monitor coupled with a web-based individual, friend or team PA challenge, on the PA and cardiovascular health of nurses working in a cardiovascular setting.
Methods: Nurses were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of the following intervention “challenge” groups: (1) individual, (2) friend or (3) team. Nurses wore a Tractivity® activity monitor throughout a baseline week and 6-week intervention. Height, body mass, body fat percentage, waist circumference, resting blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were assessed, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated, during baseline and within 1 week post-intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and general linear model procedures for repeated measures.
Results: 76 nurses (97% female; age: 46 ± 11 years) participated. Weekly moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) changed over time (F = 4.022, df = 4.827, p = 0.002, η2 = 0.055), and was greater during intervention week 2 when compared to intervention week 6 (p = 0.011). Daily steps changed over time (F = 7.668, df = 3.910, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.100), and were greater during baseline and intervention weeks 1, 2, 3, and 5 when compared to intervention week 6 (p < 0.05). No differences in weekly MVPA or daily steps were observed between groups (p > 0.05). No changes in body mass, BMI or waist circumference were observed within or between groups (p > 0.05). Decreases in body fat percentage (−0.8 ± 4.8%, p = 0.015) and resting systolic BP (−2.6 ± 8.8 mmHg, p = 0.019) were observed within groups, but not between groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: A web-based intervention providing feedback and a PA challenge initially impacted the PA, body fat percentage and resting systolic BP of nurses working in a cardiovascular setting, though increases in PA were short-lived. The nature of the PA challenge did not differentially impact outcomes. Alternative innovative strategies to improve and sustain nurses' PA should be developed and their effectiveness evaluated.
History
References
- https://doi.org//10.1080/00140139.2014.968635
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.amepre.2007.09.027
- https://doi.org//10.1089/tmj.2012.0328
- https://doi.org//10.7326/M17-0046
- https://doi.org//10.1097/JOM.0000000000000257
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.amepre.2015.01.020
- https://doi.org//10.2196/mhealth.4229
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.01.009
- https://doi.org//10.1161/JAHA.112.004473
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.08.026
- https://doi.org//10.1007/s12160-016-9846-0
- https://doi.org//10.1007/s12160-014-9675-y
- https://doi.org//10.1080/2159676X.2017.1354059
- https://doi.org//10.1097/00004872-199605000-00001
- https://doi.org//10.1249/mss.0b013e3180616b27
- https://doi.org//10.1080/10413200490260026
- https://doi.org//10.1136/bmj.g1687
- https://doi.org//10.2105/AJPH.2011.300449
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.invent.2016.10.002
- https://doi.org//10.1177/1559827613498059
- https://doi.org//10.1186/s12905-015-0186-1
- https://doi.org//10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03854.x
- https://doi.org//10.1371/journal.pone.0108842
- https://doi.org//10.1097/HCM.0000000000000010
- https://doi.org//10.1123/jsep.14.4.339
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.cjca.2013.02.007
- https://doi.org//10.1007/s10916-015-0425-x
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.cjca.2014.05.007
- https://doi.org//10.1037/a0016136
- https://doi.org//10.7326/L16-0334
- https://doi.org//10.1186/s12912-015-0091-9
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.11.003
- https://doi.org//10.1080/1750984X.2016.1217342
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.cjca.2015.12.024
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.jcjd.2013.03.022
- https://doi.org//10.1186/2046-4053-4-3
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.02.001
- https://doi.org//10.2196/jmir.3921
- https://doi.org//10.2196/jmir.6972
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2008.01.007
- https://doi.org//10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00572.x
- https://doi.org//10.1186/1479-5868-9-78
- https://doi.org//10.1249/mss.0b013e31815a51b3
- https://doi.org//10.1139/h05-147
- https://doi.org//10.2196/jmir.9.3.e26
- https://doi.org//10.1007/s00420-017-1231-1
- https://doi.org//10.1016/j.amepre.2007.02.041
- https://doi.org//10.1186/1479-5868-7-39
- https://doi.org//10.1503/cmaj.051351