Health behaviour-patterns among paediatric nurses, employed in medical institutions of Greater Poland.

UNLABELLED In the organised approach to health, a vital part is played by health education. Its main purpose is to transform populational attitudes to health and develop the sense of responsibility for it. Children constitute a particularly important populational segment in this respect. PURPOSE The aims of this study were to establish pro-health behaviour-patterns among paediatric nurses. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety-one randomly selected nurses, employed in the Greater Poland's medical institutions were queried, through a specially designed questionnaire, on their nutritional habits, physical activity, and frequency of consulting their physician. A Microsoft Excel spread sheet was employed in performing statistical calculations, making use of such functions as sum, per cent and arithmetic mean. RESULTS Almost all subjects eat irregularly. The majority of them have two meals a day, omitting breakfasts. The proportion of ingredients containing fibre in their diet is insufficient, whereas monosaccharides are consumed excessively. The physical activity is about adequate; taking strolls are the preferred form. The respondents tend to overlook the first, disturbing disease symptoms, and rarely consult with their physician. CONCLUSIONS (1) The life-style of paediatric nurses is not conducive to maintaining health, despite declaring the latter as the overriding life's value. (2) Chief aberrations in their health behaviour concern: irregular meals, consuming the excessive amount of monosaccharides, and preferring the passive forms of leisure. (3) In nurses' educational curriculum the role of health promotion in human life should be re-assessed, while the importance of health education in their future work should be emphasised.