Physical Activity and Health-Promoting Behaviours of Nurses and Physiotherapists: a Cross-Sectional Survey

Aims: There are still limited data regarding the health-promoting behavior of healthcare workers in different work settings. This study aimed to investigate and compare health-promoting behavior including levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life among nurses and physiotherapists across different work settings. Instrument Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Croatia among a convenience sample of 253 physiotherapists and nurses by demographic and work characteristics, health-promoting lifestyle profile II, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form, and the new five-level version of EQ-5D questionnaire. Participants were compared by gender, profession, and work setting. Findings: The only differences in the HPLP-II scores were found for the sub-scale health responsibility where female participants and those working in community care scored higher (p 0.001; p=0.038). Ratings of the overall health status were higher for male respondents (p=0.030). Male respondents accumulated higher levels of physical activity in the work and leisure domain as well as vigorous-intensity physical activity (p=0.034; p=0.001; p=0.004). Nurses accumulated higher levels of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (p=0.021; p=0.034). There was a positive relationship between the rating of the overall health status and levels of physical activity in the domain of leisure (p=0.047). Conclusion: Nurses and physiotherapists reported high levels of physical activity, but relatively low levels of leisure-time physical activity. There is a positive relationship between leisure-time physical activity, health-related quality of life, and health-promoting behavior.