Evaluating The Effect Of Staff Wellness Program On Nurses' Perceptions Of Supporting Healthy Behaviors In R2 Healthcare Settings In Riyadh, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

Author : Premalatha Jayachandra

Abstract : Nurses frequently experience high occupational stress that negatively impacts emotional well-being, performance, and patient care quality. Wellness programs can enhance healthy behaviors, yet evidence remains limited in Saudi Arabia. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured Staff Wellness Program in reducing psychological distress and improving nurses’ perceptions of organizational support for healthy behaviors. A pre-test/post-test design was conducted among registered nurses across twelve hospitals within the Riyadh Second Healthcare Cluster (R2). Data were collected electronically at baseline and three months post-intervention using the GHQ-12 and a validated healthy behavior perception tool. Paired t-tests, the Extended McNemar test, and Pearson correlation were applied. GHQ-12 scores decreased significantly (mean difference = 3.88, p < 0.001), while wellness perception scores increased (mean difference = 9.14, p < 0.001). Severe distress declined from 15.6% to 0%. Post-test distress correlated negatively with healthy behavior perception (r = –0.37, p = 0.01). The program effectively reduced psychological distress and enhanced workplace wellness support perceptions.

Keywords : Healthy behaviors, Nurses, Psychological Distress, Staff Wellness Program, Workplace Well-being.

Conference Name : International Conference on Nursing and Healthcare (ICNH - 25)

Conference Place : Chennai, India

Conference Date : 20th Dec 2025