Determination of Nutrition Knowledge Level and Dietary Habits Among Veterinary Faculty Students

Authors : Cemil Sahıner, Pelin Koçak Kızanlık, Solmaz Karaarslan, Devrim Beyaz, Filiz Kök, Ergün Ömer Göksoy
Pages : 244-253
Doi:10.36483/vanvetj.1773081
View : 119 | Download : 222
Publication Date : 2025-11-30
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :University students are considered as a high-risk group for nutritional behaviors due to their new lifestyles living away from home, no longer being under family supervision. Students studying in health sciences may improve their awareness and knowledge levels in healthy eating. This study aimed to investigate the effects of veterinary education on the students’ level of nutrition knowledge and dietary habits. The data was gathered through participation of 469 voluntary Veterinary Medicine students in 2021-2022 term implicating a questionnaire consisting of three different sections. The first section assessed the basic nutrition knowledge levels by using ‘The Scale of Nutritional Knowledge Level for Adults’ (NKSLA). The nutrition-health relationship and daily food intake preferences of the students were evaluated by ‘Visual Analogue Scale’ (VAS) scores in the second section. The final section, ‘Nutrition Attitudes’, determined eating habits. The results showed that all students possessed ‘good’ NKSLA, and described nutrition-health relationship as ‘important’ but considered their nutritional preferences as ‘incorrect’. Regarding to the animal originated foods, the percentages of students never consume milk, egg and seafood ranged between 12.6%-22%, 4.7%-8.6%, and 23.2%-36.8%, respectively. All participants consumed vegetables, legumes, and fruits at least once per week. Significant number of students drank coffee-tea almost every day. Depending on the grade level, between 8.6% and 17% of the students reported never consuming sweetened beverages. The findings reveal the importance of promoting healthy eating and better nutrition habits among students.
Keywords : Beslenme tutumları, Beslenme alışkanlıkları, Beslenme bilgisi, Veteriner fakültesi öğrencileri

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