A study to determine the impact of a nutrition course on dietary practices and nutritional concerns among medical college students in Armenia

Abstract

Objectives: Attitudes towards healthy eating patterns have their roots in adolescence or young adulthood. The nutritional issues of Armenian adolescents and young adults have rarely been investigated. Even of greater importance is the need for assessment of medical students’ dietary habits as indicators of appropriate alteration of dietary patterns due to nutritional knowledge. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a nutritional course on dietary practices and nutritional concerns among medical college students in Yerevan marz of Armenia. Methods: Study utilized nonequivalent control group design. Yerevan state medical university was chosen as a study setting. Sample size was calculated using a formula for two-group variance calculation. Classroom units were randomly chosen to yield the needed sample size. A self-administered questionnaire that measured dietary habits, nutritional concerns and socio-demographic characteristics was completed by 114 intervention and 114 comparison group students at pre- and post-tests. Post-measure was conducted six months after the pre-test. Independent samples t test and Chi-square analyses were used for between group analyses, and paired samples t test for within group analyses. Results: There was significant decrease in consumption of chocolate, candy, cake and butter for participants in intervention group. Both intervention and comparison groups reported an increase in servings of fruit and vegetable groups defined by the Food Guide Pyramid. Significantly higher number of intervention students at post-test reported they have changed their dietary habits due to nutritional knowledge. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that nutrition education appears to be predictive of dietary change. Absence of changes in nutritional concerns of participants suggests a need for further assessment of environmental and behavioral factors implicated in their dietary changes.