A cluster analysis of physical activity profiles and resilience in intensive care nurses
International Journal of Workplace Health Management
ISSN: 1753-8351
Article publication date: 17 January 2022
Issue publication date: 29 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Limited evidence exists regarding a group of nurses' physical activity patterns and association with resilience. Less is known about the physical activity health paradox in nurses (the positive health effects of leisure time physical activity vs the negative health effects of occupational physical activity). This study aimed to explore the profiles of intensive care nurses' physical activity behaviours and associations with resilience, following a developed study-specific job demands–recovery framework.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study was conducted with intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to explore their physical activity profiles and associations with resilience. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25 (CD-RISC 25) was used to assess resilience, and accelerometry was utilised to record participants' four-day activity (two workdays, two non-workdays). Hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to define groups of nurses by activity behaviours.
Findings
Participants (N = 93) were classified as low actives (n = 19), standers (n = 36), sitters (n = 31) and movers (n = 7). During two 12-h shifts, movers had the highest mean level of dynamic standing and the lowest mean level of sitting. During two non-workdays, movers had the highest mean level of walking as well as the lowest mean level of sitting and sleep time.
Originality/value
The uniqueness of this study was that it analysed ICU nurses' physical activity profiles and associations with resilience using identified clusters. However, the small number of participants limited this study's ability to determine significant relationships between resilience and the grouped physical activity profiles.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. Anantha Narayanan from the Auckland University of Technology for contributing to this project.
Declaration of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Funding: Fiona Yu was supported by the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship. Melody Smith was supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and Sir Charles Hercus Research Fellowship (grant number 17/013).
Citation
Yu, F., Cavadino, A., Mackay, L., Ward, K., King, A. and Smith, M. (2022), "A cluster analysis of physical activity profiles and resilience in intensive care nurses", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 174-192. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-04-2021-0082
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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