Effect of educational intervention on improving nurse’s general health in military hospitals of Iran: A quasi-experimental study

Background: Nursing in military hospitals affects their general health. Educational interventions can help to maintain the general health of nurses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention to improve the general health of nurses in military hospitals.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, ۱۴۶ nurses working in military hospitals in Tehran, Iran in ۲۰۲۱ were included in the study. The one-month educational intervention included videos, pamphlets, and motivational messages about promoting general health. General health questionnaire with ۲۸ items (GHQ۲۸) was study tool. The allocation of nurses to groups was not random, it was based on personal interest. Frequency (percentage), and mean (standard deviation) were used to describe, and the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent and paired t-test were used for data analysis. All analyzes were performed in SPSS ۲۴ software with a significance level of ۵%.Results: A total of ۱۴۶ nurses participated in the study, most of them were in the age group of ۳۰ to ۴۰ years (۶۴ people, ۴۳.۸%), and ۷۶.۷% (۱۱۲ people) of them were women. The results of the independent sample t-test showed after the intervention, general health scores in the intervention group had a significant decrease compared to the control (p <۰.۰۰۱)(change in intervention group= -۳۱.۱, V.S change in control =۰.۵۵). The results of paired t-test showed that only in the intervention group, the value of the general health score and its dimensions were significantly different (p <۰.۰۰۱).Conclusions: The educational intervention performed well and decreased the score of the general health of military nurses. Given that these positive effects may be temporary, it is necessary to design and perform educational interventions over a longer period.

Keywords:

Military hospitals , Psychiatry , Nurse , Health , Iran