Nurses' perceptions of physical activity: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: To study Chinese nurses’ overall perception of physical activity and explore potential strategies to promote their regular leisure-time physical activity levels. Methods: Using descriptive qualitative research methods, semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China, from September 2022 to May 2023. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and extract the themes. Results: Five themes were identified: 1) lack of awareness of the recommended physical activity guidelines; 2)benefits of physical activity; 3) current status of physical activity; 4)influencing factors of regular leisure-time physical activity; and 5) strategies to promote regular leisure-time physical activity. Conclusions: Health administrative departments and medical institutions should attach great importance to the popularization of physical activity knowledge and promotion of physical activity in nurses. By strengthening propaganda and education, and to provide scientific guidance and effective intervention, promote the nurses to participate in leisure physical activities regularly, to ensure their physical and mental health, improve medical service quality.