Influence of the workplace on physical activity and cardiometabolic health: Results of the multi-centre cross-sectional Champlain Nurses’ study

Abstract

Nurses are not meeting current physical activity guidelines (150 min of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week in 10-min bouts), yet exceeded these recommendations when examining their continuous (i.e. non bouts) physical activity levels. No association between the PWE and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity was observed. Rotating vs. fixed shifts, 12- vs. 8-h shifts, and/or full-time or part-time vs. casual hours may impede nurses' ability to meet recommended physical activity levels. The low physical activity levels and poor cardiometabolic health of Canadian nurses warrant attention.

Physical activity, sedentary time and sleep and associations with mood states, shift work disorder and absenteeism among nurses: an analysis of the cross-sectional Champlain Nurses’ Study

“…Only 23% of nurses had adequate/higher levels of MVPA, which is likely why we observed the strongest positive association with mood state. A closer look at this sample revealed that mental health conditions such as depression (9.1%) and anxiety (7.0%) were prevalent (Reed et al, 2018). Findings from this study revealed that nurses' MVPA levels were significantly related to measures of mood states, which can potentially affect their mental health.…”

“…This is a secondary analysis of data from the cross-sectional Champlain Nurses' Study. Details about the study have been published elsewhere (Reed et al, 2018…”

“…Nurses are the largest occupational group in Canada's health system including 282,300 publicly employed nurse managers and registered nurses (Infometrica Limited, 2017). Although nursing is perceived to be a physically active occupation, nurses have been found to spend more than half their time being sedentary on work days and very few achieve current physical activity guidelines (at least 150 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) in bouts of 10 min or more) (Shields & Wilkins, 2006;Ratner & Sawatzky, 2009;Tremblay et al, 2011;Reed et al, 2018;Prince et al, 2019). Nurses working rotating shifts rarely obtain optimal amounts of sleep (i.e., at least 7 h) and have greater odds of reporting fair or poor health when compared to nurses who work days only (Shields & Wilkins, 2006;Rogers, 2008;Edward, 2009).…”

“…It is important to consider our cumulative movement behaviours and their relationship with health outcomes rather than each behaviour separately (Giacobbi, Hausenblas & Frye, 2005;Admi et al, 2008;Chaput et al, 2014;Chastin et al, 2015). Research has suggested ideal combinations of sleep, MVPA and sedentary time (i.e., optimal sleep/high MVPA, and high MVPA/low sedentary time) are associated with better overall health (Reed et al, 2018). For example, it is important that adults engage in sufficient health-enhancing physical activity, limit sedentary time (especially leisure screen time) and obtain adequate amounts of sleep (Chastin et al, 2015).…”

Device-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic health and fitness across occupational groups: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The "physical activity paradox" suggests that PA undertaken at work differs in quality, quantity and health effects than PA performed during leisure-time [13]. For example, occupational PA carried out at lower intensities may not elicit substantial improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, such as in the case of nurses who have been shown to spend a large proportion of their wakeful time in light intensity PA (LPA) [14]. Recent systematic review evidence also suggests that higher levels of occupational PA (even while controlling for leisure-time MVPA) are associated with an increased risk in premature mortality in men [15].…”