Effect of Lifestyle Modification Training on the Control of Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome in Nurses Working Selected Military Hospital

Metabolic syndrome is one of the most prevalent health issues in the world and a risk factor for non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It is believed that optimal lifestyle improvement can be effective in reducing risk factors.

This study, therefore, aimed to determine the effect of lifestyle modification training on the control of risk factors for metabolic syndrome in nurses.

The present study is a clinical trial study whose research population included nurses working in selected military hospitals during the spring and summer of 2020. The sample was selected through purpose-based sampling and randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 40 people. For the intervention group, training lifestyle modification was conducted in a combined way, four one-hour face-to-face sessions and text messages, as well as three text messages daily. Data were collected through a demographic information questionnaire, health-promoting lifestyle questionnaire, and laboratory indicators. The control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected in two stages before and after the intervention and analyzed by the SPSS software (version 19).

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics before the intervention. Additionally, health-promoting lifestyle scores, body mass index, fasting blood sugar, waist circumference, triglyceride, and HDL were not significantly different between the two groups before the intervention; however, the difference was significant after the intervention in the intervention group (P<0.05).

Findings showed that lifestyle modification training was effective in controlling the risk factors for metabolic syndrome among nurses working in selected military hospitals; therefore, it is recommended to periodically assess the lifestyle prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the nursing staff to use lifestyle improvement training programs in continuing hospital education.