Attitude and behavior of clinical nurse towards self-health care: a cross-sectional survey

Background: Researches focus on the risk factors affecting the health of nurses have been amounting. However, the specific factors about nurse' attitude to health and health-seeking behavior pattern are not well explored. Methods: A questionnaire was sent out to all 620 nurses in department of surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) and demographic information, educational background, clinical experience, and attitude to the disease were investigated. Results: The survey indicated that 44.44% (N=212) of respondents did not consult physician. Instead, they self-managed their illness, with 60.38% (N=128) of non-consulters taking some medications. Education background (P=0.027) and income (P=0.010) were found to be the main factor affecting whether a doctor was consulted. Those who self-evaluated with well physical condition show higher strict compliance (55.00% vs. 41.64%), lower discount-compliance (43.75% vs. 56.15%), and lower total ignorance (1.25% vs. 2.21%), compared with those who self-evaluated not well (P=0.020). The respondents who thought the work stress was the influencing factor to the health were more likely to feedback a poor health status, worry about their health, fear to suffer from a disease, and complain about suffering from pain or discomfort. Conclusions: Half of nurses self-treat, with a large proportion self-prescribing, and do not believe in or comply with the doctor's advice, which warrant a closer look.