Health Promotion and Physical Activity Among Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals occupy a pivotal role in modelling and delivering health promotion, yet many struggle to maintain healthy behaviours amid demanding work schedules, shift patterns and organisational pressures. Research indicates that inadequate dietary habits, physical inactivity and elevated rates of overweight and obesity are common among nurses, doctors and allied health staff worldwide. These health risks not only undermine personal well-being and increase the burden of non-communicable diseases, but may also diminish credibility and effectiveness when advising patients. Institutional frameworks, such as accredited health-promoting hospital settings, and individual strategies, including health coaching and self-monitoring, have emerged as complementary approaches to foster sustainable lifestyle changes. Integrating physical activity promotion, regular screening and supportive policies within healthcare environments serves dual purposes: improving staff health and reinforcing the professional duty to champion preventive medicine. Global efforts now focus on tailoring interventions to the unique barriers faced by clinical teams, embedding training on health promotion in professional curricula and leveraging mixed-methods evaluations to optimise long-term outcomes.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that certification as a health-promoting hospital significantly enhances nurses’ engagement in healthy practices. In a national cross-sectional analysis, nursing staff in accredited facilities were more likely to perform regular physical activity, maintain balanced diets and participate in routine health screenings than colleagues in non-accredited hospitals. Participation in institutional sports clubs, weight-control groups and systematic health examinations was markedly higher, highlighting the influence of organisational culture and policy. These findings underline the potential of hospital-based certification programmes to create environments that support staff wellness and model preventative health behaviours for the broader community.

Health Promotion and Physical Activity Among Healthcare Professionals publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in health promotion and physical activity among healthcare professionals across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Health-promoting hospital (HPH): A healthcare institution certified for integrating health promotion into its policies and practices.

Cross-sectional study: Observational design analysing data from a population at a single point in time.

Health coaching: Structured feedback and motivational support to facilitate behavioural change.

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ): Validated instrument for self-reporting physical activity levels across various domains.

Bioimpedance analysis: Technique measuring body composition by assessing electrical conductivity of tissues.

Mixed methods approach: Research design integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis to enhance study robustness.

References

1. Unhealthy Eating Habits and Determinants of Diet Quality in Primary Healthcare Professionals in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients (2024).
2. Enhancing feedback by health coaching: the effectiveness of mixed methods approach to long-term physical activity changes in nurses. An intervention study. BMC Nursing (2024).
3. The effect of hospital-based health promotion on the health practices of full-time hospital nurses: a cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports (2023).
4. UK Nurses Delivering Physical Activity Advice: What Are the Challenges and Possible Solutions? A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).