RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The published literature suggests that RNs are more overweight and obese than the general population. This research investigates associations between nutrition literacy, anthropometry measures, and nutritional biomarkers in an undergraduate nursing student population. METHOD: Year-one nursing students from two tertiary education institutions in New Zealand were invited to participate in an observational, convenience sample study. Data collection from participants (N = 103) included a nutrition literacy questionnaire, anthropometry measures, and blood lipid, glucose, and HbA1c concentrations. RESULTS: Approximately 51% of participants were either overweight or obese, which is a similar prevalence to the New Zealand demographic-matched population. Mean body mass index was 26.7 ± 6.3 kg/m2 and body fat was 29% ± 8.3%. The mean literacy score was 56.7% ± 13.2%. The literacy score was inversely associated with anthropometry measures and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition literacy had a statistically significant influence on anthropometry and lipid measures. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(1):43-48.].
Assuntos
Educação em Saúde/métodos , Letramento em Saúde/métodos , Obesidade/prevenção & controle , Estudantes de Enfermagem/psicologia , Índice de Massa Corporal , Bacharelado em Enfermagem , Feminino , Promoção da Saúde/métodos , Humanos , Masculino , Nova Zelândia , Ciências da Nutrição/educaçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Obesity is prevalent in health care workers, but it is unknown whether a lack of nutritional knowledge contributes to this. This study measured the nutrition knowledge of undergraduate nursing students to identify knowledge gaps that could be addressed through nutrition teaching in an updated undergraduate nursing curriculum. METHOD: Undergraduate nursing students (N = 197) completed a nutrition knowledge survey with questions on demographics, body composition, nutrition labels, food packaging claims, and healthy food-purchasing choices. RESULTS: Mean overall nutritional knowledge scores were low, but overall scores were higher for students who had received nutrition teaching (60.5% versus 52.5%; F[1, 187] = 7.2, p < 0.001). Improvements in nutrition knowledge were consistent across all ethnic groups, and no effects of age were observed. CONCLUSION: To sufficiently prepare nurses for their public health role in obesity prevention, more nutrition education is needed in undergraduate nursing education programs, with emphasis on ethnic-specific educational requirements.
