Background

Nurses are exposed to declining work ability and quality of life because of biological and environmental factors.

Aim

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a self-management programme based on an attitude–social influence–self-efficacy model on work ability and quality of life for nurses aged 45 years and over.

Methods

A parallel group trial design was used. Nurses who fitted the eligibility criteria of being aged 45 years and over were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Data were collected between October 2017 and June 2018 at the hospital. The participants were blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome in the study was the impact of age on work ability.

Results

Each group consisted of 30 nurses. There were no dropouts, so all subjects were analysed. Compared with the baseline, the intervention group's work ability was higher. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the amount of changes in Work Ability Index scores at the third month compared the baseline.

Conclusion

The self-management programme was effective in increasing the nurses' work ability and healthy lifestyle behaviours affecting their quality of life.