Involvement and Barriers Towards Provision of Health Promotion Activities Among Nurses in Kuantan, Pahang

Abstract

Background: Nurses make up the single largest healthcare professional group in the Malaysian healthcare system. As frontline healthcare providers, they promote healthy lifestyles to patients and families. Nevertheless, the nurses encounter many barriers towards their involvement in providing health promotion activities. The aim of this study was to explore the nurses’ involvement and barriers towards the provision of health promotion activities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in selected community health clinics in Kuantan, Pahang. It involved 168 nurses who were selected using convenience sampling. The study used a self-administered questionnaire that contained a section on demographic characteristics, the nurses’ involvement and barriers towards the provision of health promotion activities questionnaire. Results: The results of this study show that the participants were involved in health promotion activities. Immunisation, weight management counselling, family planning, diabetes counselling, nutritional activity and physical activity were the performance items most frequently cited by the participants in terms of involvement. Meanwhile, lack of time was the most frequently cited barrier item affecting involvement.Conclusions: In terms of continuing professional development and lifelong learning, the study provides valuable information for formulating strategies to offer training opportunities and continual support available in increasing nurses' involvement in health promotion activities.