Assessment of the physical activity and diet capability of nurses at Al Karama teaching hospital in Wasit city / Iraq

Physical activity and an adequate and balanced diet are two important elements of health. It seems that it is not frequently applied in society. They are people with high awareness of physical activity and a healthy diet, which are the keys to a healthy life for nurses. However, when it comes to living habits, some individual and environmental conditions need to be considered together, as well as awareness. This study highlights the importance of a healthy diet and physical exercise in preventing malnutrition and diet-related diseases. It emphasizes the shift in dietary patterns due to increased consumption of processed food and changing lifestyles. The abstract also discusses the impact of unhealthy lifestyles on nurses' own health, emphasizing the high rates of obesity and smoking among nurses. It emphasizes the need for nurses to prioritize their own nutrition and physical health. Additionally, the abstract addresses the global issue of physical inactivity and its contribution to cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. It highlights the significant burden of physical inactivity and its financial implications. The role of nurses in promoting healthy lifestyles and educating patients about nutrition is also mentioned. Finally, the abstract acknowledges the challenges of addressing unhealthy behaviors in both clinical and public health settings. This body of research underscores the critical importance of a healthy diet and regular physical activity in maintaining overall well-being and preventing various diseases. It highlights how societal shifts, such as increased processed food consumption and changing lifestyles, have led to less healthy dietary choices among nurses. Additionally, it sheds light on the alarming health trends among nurses, who, despite their role in promoting patient health, often neglect their own health and adopt unhealthy habits. The research also emphasizes the significance of physical activity capability, both for nurses' health and the broader healthcare system, and reveals the prevalence of physical inactivity globally. Nurses, as a substantial part of the healthcare workforce, are especially affected by these challenges. Furthermore, the studies advocate for assessing individuals' capabilities in terms of physical activity capability and a healthy diet, recognizing the complex interplay of personal and environmental factors. Nurses emerge as key players in educating patients about nutrition, given their continuous presence and accessibility in healthcare settings. In summary, these findings emphasize the urgency of addressing unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity, not only on an individual level but also as public health challenges with far-reaching consequences. The multifaceted nature of these issues underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that consider both personal choices and societal factors in promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing the burden of diseases. The main purpose of this research is to assess the physical activity capability and diet capability of nurses and to find out the relationship between physical activity capability, diet capability, and the socio-demographic characteristics of nurses. The research was conducted at Al-Karama Teaching Hospital in Wasit City, Iraq. It was held between 5.2.2023 and 15.3.2023. The type of research is descriptive-cross-sectional. 132 nurses were randomly selected for the research. The study's dependent variables are the nurses' age, gender, body mass index, educational status, and the department they work in. The independent variables of the research are the physical activity and diet capacity of nurses. The physical activity and diet capability scale developed by Ferrer et al. was used to measure nurses' physical activity and nutritional capability data. The scale consists of 25 items. The validity of the questionnaire was verified in Arabic using forward and backward translations by Alhaji 2021. IBM SPSS version 25.0 was used to analyze the data descriptively and inferentially. In this study, the average diet capability score of nurses was 48.39±7, and the physical activity capability score was found to be 34.61±7.53. When classified according to demographic characteristics, physical activity capability and diet capability scores were found to be similar in age groups, departments of study, and body mass index classifications. However, the education level of male nurses is higher than that of female nurses. The study's findings provide valuable insights into nurses' health capabilities. It was observed that nurses had a moderate level of diet capability, with the highest scores related to diet opportunities. However, their physical activity capability was generally low, with the neighborhood aspect having the highest score within this category. Importantly, there were significant differences between genders, with males exhibiting higher physical activity capabilities than females. Education levels also played a role, impacting physical activity convenience. Surprisingly, nurses with and without chronic diseases had similar overall diet and physical activity capabilities, although those with chronic conditions reported more barriers to physical activity. Additionally, nurses across different BMI categories showed similar levels of capability in both diet and physical activity.The study recommend to promoting educational training workshops aimed at improving nurses' diet and preparing educational programs on the dangers and complications of bad eating habits, body lethargy, and its harm to health and nursing care performance. It is necessary to include nursing staff in sports programs and encouraging them to increase physical activity, which reflects positively on their health and appearance. Increasing health awareness about physical activity for women through educational courses, providing time to exercise, and also encouraging joining sports clubs to increase physical activity to improve physical health. Guiding nurses who suffer from chronic diseases about specific exercise programs that suit their health condition. Providing an educational package, brochure, or movie to each nurses. The study proposes that further specialized research in the field of nurses' activity capability and diet of nurses.be conducted. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to improve nurses' health and well-being, especially regarding physical activity capability and gender-specific considerations.