PRACTICE AND APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE BY NUTRITION STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Nutritional knowledge and awareness regarding prevention and cure of diseases has helped in establishing the field of nutrition globally. More students are now enrolling in nutrition as a college major. In case of nutrition undergrads, it is safe to say that they have most extensive knowledge of food and healthy dietary habits. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess whether the nutrition students applying their knowledge in their daily lives or not. Also to identify the barrier faced by students in the application of knowledge.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at University of Lahore where 100 students of diet & nutrition were selected by using convenience sampling technique. Adults of both genders above age 18 of semester 7th, 8th, and 9th were included. A questionnaire of 28 questions was assembled having total score of 56. Scores above 28 were considered good and below 28 were considered poor. To calculate frequency of sample, SPSS version 2021 was used. Results: Out of 100 participants, majority were females (88%). The mean weight and height of students were 59.41 + 10.74kg and 162.78 + 7.49cm, respectively. 28 questions were devised for the assessment of nutritional knowledge application in daily routine of our participants. Questions were divided into 3 categories. Likert-type scaling method was used to score participants. Total score was set 56 and cut-off score was set greater than equal to 28. It was seen that most of our participants scored more than 28. The mean score was 36.9, inferring that they were applying their knowledge in their daily lives. Conclusion: Our study concluded that almost all our participants studying Diet and Nutritional Sciences had proper knowledge of nutrition and most of them are practicing this knowledge in their daily lives. Only 13% of the students were unable to do so because of unhealthy choices given by authorities such as hostel and university’s cafes and their own preferences etc. We also witnessed that despite their understanding, some of the participants did not consume the necessary required daily amounts of nutrients due to their preference for fast food over fruits and vegetables.