ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The purpose of the present study was to provide a stair-climbing exercise program for nurses and examine the effectiveness of an intervention program on physical fitness. The 199 stair-climbing exercises (about 22 floors) was utilizing a public access staircase during the working week. Each participant needed to take the stair-climbing exercise thrice a week and a total of eighteen trials should be executed during six weeks. Results of ANOVA showed that the climbing time and physical fitness of nurses were significantly improved after intervention stair-climbing exercise. The mean climbing time for 199 steps was decreased from 159 to 138 sec after six weeks training. The delta heart rates in the first and final weeks were 54.7 and 51.4 bpm respectively. In addition, the scores of Borg-RPE scales were significant decreased from 16.2 to 12.9 in the final week. The results of the present study revealed that intervention of a stair-climbing exercise program could effectively improve nurses’ physical fitness. Nurses need the moderate exercise training to promote nurses’ health and enhance quality of life for both nurses and patients. Suggestions of present study were provision of health promotion activities and frequency of exercise at least three times a week.
