Table 2

Health related behaviours of nurses with good health vs nurses with poor health

Variable
Frequency n (%)
Frequency n (%)
P value*





Good health
Poor health


Smoking



     Current smokers
61 (42)
103 (51)
NS
     Former smokers
21 (14)
22 (11)

     Have never smoked
65 (44)
79 (39)

Alcohol consumption



     Does not drink
44 (30)
57 (28)
NS
     Occasionally
57 (39)
95 (46)

     Once a week
26 (18)
29 (14)

     More than once a week
20 (14)
25 (12)

Body Mass Index (BMI)



     <20
12 (8)
16 (8)
NS
     20–24.9
89 (61)
104(52)

     25–29.9
36 (25)
67 (33)

     >30
9 (6)
14 (7)

Leisure time exercise



     Yes
91 (62)
83 (41)
<0.001
     No
56 (38)
122 (60)


*P values calculated with Χ2 tests.

Pappas et al. BMC Nursing 2005 4:8   doi:10.1186/1472-6955-4-8