Knowledge and Attitude Towards Nutrition Among University College Students

Lai, Guan Jia (2016) Knowledge and Attitude Towards Nutrition Among University College Students. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

Text FYP-2014-2015-Lai GJ.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB)

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the body mass index (BMI), nutritional knowledge and attitude towards nutrition of Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) Main Campus students. This study also investigates the possible relationship between knowledge and attitude, BMI and nutritional knowledge as well as BMI and attitude towards nutrition. Aims: The aims of this study were to achieve the following: 1) to examine the body mass index, nutritional knowledge and attitude towards nutrition of TAR UC Main Campus students. 2) to investigate the nutritional knowledge and attitude towards nutrition between genders and among faculties of TAR UC students 3) to investigate the possible relationship between knowledge and attitude, BMI and nutritional knowledge and BMI and attitude towards nutrition. Sample: The sample of the study comprised 380 respondents from TAR UC main campus. Out of the 380 respondents, 180 respondents are males and 200 respondents are females. Besides, 76 respondents were asked from each faculty. Method: For the purpose of gathering data in this study, two instruments were administered. The instruments selected for this study were the “17 True-False Questions Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire” provided by Yahya Ozdogan and Ozfer Ozcelik (2011) and “Modification of a Nutritional Questionnaire for Older Adults and the Ability of Its Knowledge and Attitude Evaluations to Predict Dietary Adequacy” by Thomas et al. (1990) which was both adapted. Results: The data was analyzed and interpreted with SPSS. In this study, descriptive statistic tool were used to describe the demographic information such as age profile, gender profile, height and weight profile as well as BMI. The frequency distribution of BMI revealed that 70.5% were within the normal weight category. The percentages of underweight students were 20%, while overweight were 9.20% and 0.26% were obese. In inferential statistics, independent t-tests revealed that male and female showed no difference in nutritional knowledge and attitude towards nutrition. However, there were difference among faculties in nutritional knowledge; but no difference among faculties in attitude towards nutrition. Pearson Correlation Coefficient revealed that there was correlation between attitude and knowledge. Nevertheless, there were no correlations between BMI and attitude as well as BMI and knowledge. Conclusion: The study observed no difference in nutritional knowledge and attitude towards nutrition between genders, and there was no difference among faculties for attitude towards nutrition. However, there was a significant difference among faculties for nutritional knowledge. Tertile scores showed that more students have moderate attitude towards nutrition and more students are found to be excellent in nutritional knowledge. Nutritional knowledge and attitude towards nutrition showed a relation; whereas BMI showed no relation with either nutritional knowledge or attitude towards nutrition. Lastly, BMI results showed that the majority of the students fall under the normal weight category. More males are overweight, whereas more females are underweight. Key Words: Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude towards Nutrition, Genders, Faculties, BMI