How healthy are the healthcare staff in a rural health service? A cross sectional study

Summary:

The research reports that:

• Healthcare workers operate in a stressful environment; with rotating shifts impacting health and recent evidence suggesting health service/hospital staff have sub-optimal dietary and physical activity behaviours and experience psychological distress.
• Workplace settings are an ideal place to promote healthy behaviours amongst staff.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to understand the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers in hospital settings.

There are clear leverage points for intervention in the rural /regional hospital workplace to enable healthier behaviours and support positive mental health and wellbeing.