Balancing Knowledge and Health: A Comparative Analysis of Students and Healthcare Workers Nutrition Related Health Behaviors, a Cross-Sectional Study.

Hussein Zaitoon, Lisa Kaly, Hadel Khalil, Nataly Zion
Author Information
  1. Hussein Zaitoon: The Institute of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. ORCID
  2. Lisa Kaly: Rheumatology Unit, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. ORCID
  3. Hadel Khalil: Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel.
  4. Nataly Zion: Bnai Zion Academic School of Nursing, Haifa, Israel. ORCID

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate nutrition-related health behaviors among nursing and medical students compared to healthcare workers (HCWs), including nurses and physicians. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and November 2022, using the I-MEDAS and lifestyle-related behavior questionnaires. The participants included nursing and medical students, nurses, and physicians, with a total of 384 participants: 16.9% physicians, 23.17% nurses, and 59.9% students, 93% of whom were nursing students. The average I-MEDAS score (out of 17) was 7 for physicians, 8 for nurses, and 8 for students, with no significant differences in lifestyle behavior scores between the groups (p���=���0.11), although nurses tended to score lower. Nurses also had a significantly higher BMI compared to physicians and students (p���<���0.001). Physicians and nurses reported lower engagement in leisure activities and household chores, fewer sleep hours, and poorer sleep quality. The findings highlight a decline in healthy lifestyle behaviors and poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet among HCWs and students, particularly nurses, emphasizing the need for interventions to promote healthier habits in these groups.

Keywords

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MeSH Term

Humans
Cross-Sectional Studies
Male
Female
Adult
Health Behavior
Surveys and Questionnaires
Health Personnel
Students, Nursing
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Word Cloud

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