Nutrition knowledge and willingness to seek nutritional counseling: analysis of data among a sample of university students
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 6 June 2023
Issue publication date: 21 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess nutrition knowledge (NK) and willingness to seek nutritional counseling (WSNC) and their predictors among university students in Lebanon.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional design was used to enroll students from two large private universities in Lebanon. Data were collected by a standardized questionnaire. NK scores on general and specific nutrition areas were computed. The predictors of NK and WSNC were determined by multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Findings
A total of 370 students were included, among which 68% had good general nutritional knowledge, which appears to be associated with being a pharmacy student (adjusted OR (aOR) = 4.26 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55; 11.7]), and having a dietitian as a reference for nutritional information (aOR = 8.84 [95% CI 1.94; 40.3]). However, 64% of participants had a high specific nutritional knowledge score, which was related to either attending a school of arts and sciences or being a pharmacy student (aOR = 10.8 [95% CI 4.08; 28.5]). Most students (80%) had the will to seek nutritional counseling, which was positively associated with being a female (aOR = 2.01 [95% CI 1.10; 3.67]) and a pharmacy student (aOR = 2.62 [95% CI 1.15; 5.95]). The general nutritional knowledge score was significantly associated with the WSNC (aOR = 2.10 [95% CI 1.04; 4.25]).
Originality/value
Higher nutritional knowledge and WSNC were found among students enrolled in health-related fields. These results underline how important nutrition education is as a strategy for inspiring college students to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank all those who contributed in the setting of the study, mainly master students Christelle Boutros and Jacinthe Hindieh for their help in the data collection and in designing the questionnaire and all the individuals who participated.
Competing interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.
Funding: No external funding was received.
Citation
Akiki, Z., El Haber, Y., Al Kassir, P., Sakr, F., Cherfane, M. and Obeid, C. (2023), "Nutrition knowledge and willingness to seek nutritional counseling: analysis of data among a sample of university students", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 53 No. 8, pp. 1304-1318. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-11-2022-0370
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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