Special Issue: Military and Veteran HealthFactors influencing health behaviors among active duty Air Force personnel

BackgroundIndividual health behaviors affect whether U.S. Air Force (USAF) service members are fit and ready to deploy.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to understand health behaviors of USAF members to guide future interventions to reduce cardiovascular risks.MethodsA qualitative descriptive study was conducted with a purposive sample of 24 active duty USAF participants. Conventional content analysis was used to derive data-driven themes that were compared with the Health Promotion Model (HPM).DiscussionParticipants defined health in a multifactorial way that covered physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. The three themes that contributed to participants' health behaviors addressed: “who I am,” “what works for me,” and the USAF culture. There was a poor fit between findings as expressed by these participants and the HPM.ConclusionAlthough these findings were derived from a sample of USAF participants, the findings have implications for members of other military services. The findings also have relevance for nurses and other providers within the civilian work environments who can promote health and wellness by integrating a client's personal history into a plan for developing and sustaining a healthy lifestyle.