Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
MSc Student, Expert nutrition, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
2
Instructor, Academic Member, Occupational Environment Research Center & Dept of Social Medicine, Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
3
Assistant Prof, Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Occupational Environment Research Center, Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
4
PhD student of Epidemiology, Elderly Expert, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Health care staff can play an important role in changing nutritional habits and attitudes of a population. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice among health workers in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS) in 2016.
MaterialsandMethods: In this descriptive study, 289 health- care staff working at health centers, health units, and health houses of the RUMS were selected by census method. Data gathering tool was a structured questionnaire completed by self-administered NKAP (Nutritional, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice study). Data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact test, one-way ANOVA followed by Turkey’s multiple comparisons test.
Results: Results showed that the score mean and standard deviation of knowledge and practice of the employees were 31.33 ± 5.79 (out of 46) and 14.31 ± 2.60 (out of 20) respectively. Twenty-nine point one percent of samples and 33.2% of them had excellent nutritional knowledge and practice respectively. There was a significant relationship between nutritional knowledge and some of the demographic parameters including; gender, work experience, degree of education (p<0.001), job category, and employment status (p<0.001). This study also found a significant association between nutritional practice and the above-mentioned parameters as follows; gender (p=0.001), work experience (p<0.001), degree of education (p=0.037), job category (p=0.002), and employment status (p=0.003). The primary care staff had a desirable (positive) attitude about the 23 questions (96.5% - 62.1%) and an undesirable attitude for 8 questions. (77.9% - 42.9%)
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that participants had a well to excellent level of nutritional knowledge and practice. It seems that the nutritional training courses should be revised and updated particularly for male health workers with a lower degree of education or longer years of civil service.
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