Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study were to: (1) describe the individual characteristics, perceived health status, body image, and health promoting behaviors of staff nurses working in a metropolitan hospital and (2) determine the relationship of perceived health status, body image, and health promoting behaviors. METHODS: Data were collected from 311 staff nurses working at one of university affiliated hospitals using a self-administered questionnaire for perceived health status(SF 36 V2), body image(BAQ), and health promoting behaviors (HPLP-II) and using the report of year 2002 employee physical check-up results for health related characteristics. RESULTS: Most of nurses were within the normal range of BMI, total cholesterol, and liver enzymes but 42.2% had systolic BP above 120mmHg and 37.3% hemoglobin below 12g/dL. Although 96.4% of BMI score indicated 'underweight' or 'normal', 'feeling fat' showed the highest. Among health promoting behaviors the most frequently reported one was spiritual growth and the least one was engagement in physical activity. In the correlational analysis, health promoting behaviors had the positive relationships with perceived health status, vitality, mental health, attractiveness, strength and fitness (p=.000 - .004). CONCLUSION: These findings provide information that is relevant in designing interventions to enhance health promoting behaviors among nurses working in a hospital.

• Keywords: Individual characteristics; Perceived health status; Body image; Health promoting behavior