Efficiency of an intervention study on nursing students’ knowledge and practices regarding nutrition and dietary habits

ABSTRACT

Poor eating habits and hazardous weight-control measures are prevalent among university students. Hence, practical and efficient intervention programs are necessary to enhance nutritional awareness and promote healthy dietary practices encompassing food choices and diet quality. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of an intervention study on nursing students’ knowledge and practices regarding nutrition and dietary habits. A quasi-experimental research design with pre-post phases was used to study 250 nursing students at the College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The sample was non-randomized and taken from March 2023 until the end of May of the same year. The closed-ended questionnaire focused on participant demographics, knowledge, and practices relating to nutrition and eating habits. The survey was divided into three main sections. Technical terms were consistently defined throughout the questionnaire, and the language used was clear and objective. The research adhered to conventional academic structure and formatting, following the guidelines of the relevant style manual. Grammatical correctness and precise word choice were ensured, and filler words were avoided. The participants in the study displayed an increase in knowledge scores from 33.7 ± 4.6 in the pre-test to 52.6 ± 7.2 in the post-test. Moreover, prior to program implementation, their overall nutrition practice scores stood at 64 ± 9.5, but after the program, the score had risen to 107.7 ± 4.22. A significant difference in the total knowledge and practice scores was identified between the pre- and post-test phases, with an a p-value of 0.001. The nursing students’ scores for both knowledge and practical application of nutrition and eating habits showed a significant increase following the implementation of the program. Therefore, it is imperative to introduce well-structured training programs on nutrition and promote healthy diet habits for all medical faculties, paramedics, and applied health institutions across Saudi Arabia.