A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of a Tailored Exercise Program for Improving Physical and Mental Well-being among Staff Nurses in Kuwait Hospital, Sharjah

Exercise improves health and well-being for nurses, but work schedules and stressors can hinder self-care, leading to physical and mental health issues and increased nursing shortages. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored exercise program for improving physical and mental wellbeing among staff nurses in Kuwait Hospital, Sharjah. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the physical and mental well-being of staff nurses and assess the effectiveness of a tailored exercise program in enhancing their overall well-being. METHOD: A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design with 124 staff nurses selected through non-probability convenient sampling. The nurses participated in a tailored exercise program involving warm-up, strengthening/aerobic, and cool-down exercises before each shift for 2 months, and data was collected using a structured interview schedule and a 40-item Well-Being Measuring tool. Results: The mean postinterventional level of physical and mental health wellbeing was significantly greater than that of the mean pre-interventional level of physical and mental health well-being. The paired ‘t’ test computed between pre-interventional and post-interventional levels of physical and mental health wellbeing was statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The calculated 't' value (7.2992) exceeds the table value. Hence, the null hypothesis (H0) is rejected. It indicates that a tailored exercise program is an effective measure in improving physical and mental health well-being among staff nurses. Conclusion: The tailored exercise program demonstrated measurable success in elevating participants' quality of life, emotional resilience, and physical health. The results showed a positive impact on physical and mental well-being. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on and implement such exercise programs among nurses, the largest workforce team in a hospital, targeting their well-being. Keywords: Physical well-being, Mental well-being, Tailored exercise, Work-related stressors