Health‐related behaviours of nurses and other healthcare professionals: A cross‐sectional study using the Scottish Health Survey.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence and co‐occurrence of health‐related behaviours among nurses in Scotland relative to other healthcare workers and those in non‐healthcare occupations. Design: Secondary analysis of nationally representative cross‐sectional data, reported following STROBE guidelines. Methods: Five rounds (2008–2012) of the Scottish Health Survey were aggregated to estimate the prevalence and co‐occurrence of health‐related behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake). The weighted sample (n = 18,820) included 471 nurses (3%), 433 other healthcare professionals (2%), 813 unregistered care workers (4%), and 17,103 in non‐healthcare occupations (91%). Logistic regression models compared the prevalence of specific health‐related behaviours and principal component analysis assessed co‐occurrence of health‐related behaviours between occupational groups. Results: Nurses reported significantly better health‐related behaviours relative to the general working population for smoking, fruit/vegetable intake, and physical activity. No significant difference was found for alcohol consumption between occupational groups. Nurses reported lower levels of harmful co‐occurring behaviours (tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption) and higher levels of preventive behaviours (physical activity and fruit/vegetable intake) compared with the general working population. Other healthcare professionals had the lowest level of harmful health behaviours and the highest level of preventive health behaviours. Health‐related behaviours were poorest among unregistered care workers. Conclusion: Nurses' health‐related behaviours were better than the general population but non‐adherence to public health guidelines was concerning. Impact: Nurses play an important role in health promotion through patient advice and role‐modelling effects. To maximise their impact, healthcare providers should prioritise increasing access to healthy food, alcohol awareness, and smoking cessation programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]