Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore if there is a relationship between the modifiable risk factors of diet, cardiovascular exercise, and sleep, and health care employees’ perceived self-efficacy at work. I used two research methods to gather data. I invited the Midwestern Hospital perioperative employees (N = 102) to answer two questionnaire forms on health behaviors and self-efficacy regarding their current health status. In each of the modifiable risk factor categories - nutrition, cardiovascular exercise and sleep pattern – the study participants reported on average, that it was “important” (M = 3.95 - 4.47) to eat healthy at work, engage in cardiovascular exercise each week, and get quality sleep every night. One-way ANOVA reported there was no significant difference in mean age category due to health care employee self-efficacy, [F(5,96) = 1.070, p = 0.382, ns]. When comparing men’s and women’s modifiable risk factors of nutritional intake, cardiovascular exercise and sleep patterns to self-efficacy in the workplace, I found similar results in means and standard deviations. Correlational analyses results indicated a moderate correlation (rs = .587, p = .001) between nutrition and cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercise and sleep followed at rs = .405, p = .001. Self-efficacy and sleep had a weaker correlation at rs = .206, p = .001. In general, based upon the findings of this study, the risk factors of nutrition and cardiovascular exercise were most moderately linked. Health care employees expressed the strongest self-efficacy correlation with the modifiable risk factor of diet. This study lends moderate to modest support to the idea of creating interventions based on self-efficacy theory in order to positively influence healthy behavior in health care employees. vi If health care employers and organizations want to improve the health behaviors of their employees, they may need to focus more on wellness and health promotion today.