Implementation of a Participant-Centered Weight Management Program for Older Nurses: A Feasibility Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Public Health
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Overweight and obesity are prevalent among American nurses, impacting their roles in health promotion.
• A significant portion of nurses are post-menopausal women, a demographic often at higher risk for weight gain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a novel participant-centered weight management program (PCWM) for nurses.
• To evaluate the program's impact on nurses' weight, dietary habits, and physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• A single-group pre-test/post-test design was employed over eight weeks and three months.
• The intervention included face-to-face education, technology-assisted exercise, and an eHealth portal.
• The program was guided by a participant-centered (P-C) framework rooted in usability engineering.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in body weight were observed at eight weeks.
• Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and higher exercise levels were noted at eight weeks.
• While some effects diminished by three months, the results are encouraging given the program's non-regimented nature.

Conclusions:

• The participant-centered weight management program demonstrates feasibility and short-term efficacy among nurses.
• The program's reliance on self-activated health behaviors shows potential, despite a need for enhanced sustainability.
• Further investigation with larger, diverse samples is recommended to confirm long-term effectiveness.