Health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among nurses in private hospitals in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND

An individual's lifestyle influences health, and health-promoting behaviors and a healthy lifestyle are crucial means to maintain health. Nurses play a significant role as models in health-promoting activities.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the current health-promoting lifestyle of nurses in private hospitals and investigate possible associations between health behaviors and demographic characteristics.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 420 nurses were assessed using the Health-Promotion Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) scale as a self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

The mean age of about 78% women and 22% men was 33.12±8.52 years. Most of them (98%) were non-Saudi, and 50% had a diploma; 38% had 5-10 years of experience, 50% were married, 49% had children, and 64% had a monthly income of less than 3000 Saudi Riyal. 'Spiritual growth' showed the highest mean score and 'physical activity' showed the lowest mean score. Significant differences in nurses' health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and significant correlations were found between the HPLP-II and demographic variables.

CONCLUSION

Nurses' display of health responsibility, nutrition, interpersonal relations, and stress management behaviors was moderate. Although their physical activity was low, their spiritual growth was high. For older, married, and those nurses whose monthly income was more than 3000 Saudi Riyal, the nutrition score was higher. Age, marital, and economic status were associated significantly with nutritional health behavior.

RECOMMENDATION

Development and training programs should be performed to raise awareness of the importance of health education and health promotion, and the necessary facilities should be provided at the work place to encourage healthy behavior.