Conocimiento de estudiantes de salud sobre alimentación saludable y factores asociados al entorno universitario / Health students' knowledge about healthy eating and factors associated with the university environment

Objetivo. Evaluar los conocimientos sobre alimentación saludable (AS) de los estudiantes del área de la salud y los factores asociados al entorno universitario. Materiales y métodos. Se trata de un estudio transversal con 512 estudiantes universitarios (≥ 18 años) matriculados en nueve carreras de grado en salud. Se llevó a cabo de abril a noviembre de 2017. Se aplicaron el Instrumento Evaluativo de la promoción de la salud en la universidad y el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física. Además, se midió el peso, talla y perímetro abdominal. Se realizaron análisis bivariados y multivariados utilizando SPSS versión 23.0. Resultados. Se encontró que la mayoría de los estudiantes universitarios de las nueve carreras de salud tenían conocimientos insuficientes sobre alimentación saludable (71,9%; n=368). Sin embargo, la mayor proporción de estudiantes con conocimientos suficientes se encontraron en el área de nutrición (15,3%; n=22), seguidos de aquellos del área de educación física (12,5%; n=18). El menor porcentaje de estudiantes con conocimientos suficientes se encontró en la carrera de medicina (8,3%; n=12). En el análisis multivariado se evidenció que el conocimiento suficiente sobre alimentación saludable estaba relacionado con la participación en actividades de alimentación saludable (p=0,012; RP=1,94), participación en actividades que aborden la autoestima y el autoconocimiento (p=0,046; RP=0,59) y con tener exceso de peso (p=0,036; RP=1,53). Conclusión. Se evidenció un bajo porcentaje de estudiantes de salud con conocimientos suficientes sobre alimentación saludable. Sin embargo, la participación en actividades de alimentación saludable, autoestima y autoconocimiento en la universidad logró mejorar el nivel de conocimiento. Se recomienda el desarrollo de proyectos universitarios que abarquen la tríada psicológica, alimentaria y corporal, involucrando así todas las carreras de salud, con el objetivo de mejorar la salud y la calidad de vida de los universitarios.

Objective. To assess the healthy eating (HE) knowledge of health students and the factors associated with the university environment. Materials and methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 512 university students (≥ 18 years) enrolled in nine undergraduate health careers. It was conducted from April to November 2017. The Instrument for Assessment of Health Promotion in Universities and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used. In addition, we measured weight, height and waist circumference. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out with SPSS version 23.0. Results. We found that most university students from the nine health careers had insufficient knowledge about healthy eating (71.9%; n=368). However, the highest proportion of students with sufficient knowledge was found in the career of nutrition (15.3%; n=22), followed by those in the physical education career (12.5%; n=18). The lowest percentage of students with sufficient knowledge was found in the career of medicine (8.3%; n=12). Multivariate analysis showed that sufficient knowledge about healthy eating was related to participation in healthy eating activities (p=0.012; PR=1.94), participation in activities addressing self-esteem and self-knowledge (p=0.046; PR=0.59) and being overweight (p=0.036; PR=1.53). Conclusion. A low percentage of health students had sufficient knowledge about healthy eating. However, participation in healthy eating, self-esteem and self-knowledge activities at the university managed to improve the level of knowledge. We recommend the development of university projects that include the psychological, food and body triad, thus involving all health careers, with the aim of improving the health and quality of life of university students.

Association between dietary patterns and alteredmammographic findings / Asociación entre patrones dietéticos y hallazgos mamográficos alterados

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the main types ofcancer in women. Previous studies assessed the relationshipbetween diet and breast cancer risk, however, studies thatevaluate the relationship between diet and mammographicfindings are scarce. Aim: To evaluate the association between dietary patternsand mammographic findings of women monitored by a mas-tology service of the Brazilian Unified Health System. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study that eval-uated data from 504 women. Two 24-hour dietary recallswere applied and dietary patterns were identified by principalcomponent factor analysis. The mammography reports wereclassified into normal and altered mammographic findings. Logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the asso-ciation between dietary patterns and mammographic findings.The analyses were performed in the software Stata and R andconsidered significant values of p <0.05. Results: Three dietary patterns was identified: “traditionalBrazilian” (rice, beans, red meat, breads, oils and fats andcoffees and teas), “Western” (sugar sweetened beverages, eggs, cakes, pies and cookies, fast-food snacks and, sweetsand desserts) and “prudent” (whole grains, fruits, vegetables,tubers and their products, dairy and chicken). Women withless adherence (OR 0.54 CI 95% 0.30:0.95) to the “traditionalBrazilian” dietary pattern had 46% lower odds for having al-tered mammographic findings. No associations were foundbetween “Western” and “prudent” dietary patterns with mam-mographic findings.(AU)

Health students' knowledge about healthy eating and factors associated with the university environment. / Conocimiento de estudiantes de salud sobre alimentación saludable y factores asociados al entorno universitario.

OBJECTIVE.: Motivation for the study: it is important to assess the level of knowledge about healthy eating in university students as this allows raising awareness about the practice and maintenance of healthy eating habits. Main findings: most university students from the nine health careers had insufficient knowledge about healthy eating. The highest proportion of students with sufficient knowledge were found in the career of nutrition. Implications: there is a need for projects at the university level that encompass the triad of psychology, food, and body; which would improve healthy eating habits in university students. To assess the healthy eating (HE) knowledge of health students and the factors associated with the university environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: This was a cross-sectional study of 512 university students (≥ 18 years) enrolled in nine undergraduate health careers. It was conducted from April to November 2017. The Instrument for Assessment of Health Promotion in Universities and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used. In addition, we measured weight, height and waist circumference. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out with SPSS version 23.0. RESULTS.: We found that most university students from the nine health careers had insufficient knowledge about healthy eating (71.9%; n=368). However, the highest proportion of students with sufficient knowledge was found in the career of nutrition (15.3%; n=22), followed by those in the physical education career (12.5%; n=18). The lowest percentage of students with sufficient knowledge was found in the career of medicine (8.3%; n=12). Multivariate analysis showed that sufficient knowledge about healthy eating was related to participation in healthy eating activities (p=0.012; PR=1.94), participation in activities addressing self-esteem and self-knowledge (p=0.046; PR=0.59) and being overweight (p=0.036; PR=1.53). CONCLUSION.: A low percentage of health students had sufficient knowledge about healthy eating. However, participation in healthy eating, self-esteem and self-knowledge activities at the university managed to improve the level of knowledge. We recommend the development of university projects that include the psychological, food and body triad, thus involving all health careers, with the aim of improving the health and quality of life of university students.

OBJETIVO.: Motivación para realizar el estudio: Es importante evaluar el nivel de conocimientos acerca de alimentación saludable en estudiantes universitarios ya que esto permite sensibilizar sobre la práctica y mantenimiento de hábitos alimentarios saludables. Principales hallazgos: La mayoría de los estudiantes universitarios de las nueve carreras de salud tenían conocimientos insuficientes sobre alimentación saludable. La mayor proporción de estudiantes con conocimientos suficientes se encontraron en el área de nutrición. Implicancias: Es necesario promover proyectos en el ámbito universitario que abarquen la tríada de psicología, alimentación y cuerpo; lo cual mejoraría los hábitos alimentarios saludables en estudiantes universitarios. Evaluar los conocimientos sobre alimentación saludable (AS) de los estudiantes del área de la salud y los factores asociados al entorno universitario. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Se trata de un estudio transversal con 512 estudiantes universitarios (≥ 18 años) matriculados en nueve carreras de grado en salud. Se llevó a cabo de abril a noviembre de 2017. Se aplicaron el Instrumento Evaluativo de la promoción de la salud en la universidad y el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física. Además, se midió el peso, talla y perímetro abdominal. Se realizaron análisis bivariados y multivariados utilizando SPSS versión 23.0. RESULTADOS.: Se encontró que la mayoría de los estudiantes universitarios de las nueve carreras de salud tenían conocimientos insuficientes sobre alimentación saludable (71,9%; n=368). Sin embargo, la mayor proporción de estudiantes con conocimientos suficientes se encontraron en el área de nutrición (15,3%; n=22), seguidos de aquellos del área de educación física (12,5%; n=18). El menor porcentaje de estudiantes con conocimientos suficientes se encontró en la carrera de medicina (8,3%; n=12). En el análisis multivariado se evidenció que el conocimiento suficiente sobre alimentación saludable estaba relacionado con la participación en actividades de alimentación saludable (p=0,012; RP=1,94), participación en actividades que aborden la autoestima y el autoconocimiento (p=0,046; RP=0,59) y con tener exceso de peso (p=0,036; RP=1,53). CONCLUSIÓN.: Se evidenció un bajo porcentaje de estudiantes de salud con conocimientos suficientes sobre alimentación saludable. Sin embargo, la participación en actividades de alimentación saludable, autoestima y autoconocimiento en la universidad logró mejorar el nivel de conocimiento. Se recomienda el desarrollo de proyectos universitarios que abarquen la tríada psicológica, alimentaria y corporal, involucrando así todas las carreras de salud, con el objetivo de mejorar la salud y la calidad de vida de los universitarios.

Academic education in health profession programs, knowledge and use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) by university students.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association of academic education in health professions programs with the knowledge and use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) by university students and to determine whether CAM can promote a healthy university environment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 512 university students enrolled in health professions programs in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, from April to November 2017. The Assessment Tool for Health Promotion at the University was used to collect sociodemographic, academic and CAM data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed considering the outcomes "knowledge of CAM" and "CAM in the promotion of a healthy university environment" using SPSS Statistic version 20.0. RESULTS: Data from 512 participants were analyzed. Women (n = 357; 69.7%), young students (n = 393; 76.8%) and unemployed students (n = 429; 83.8%) predominated. Knowledge of CAM was associated with health profession program (OR = 0.934; p = 0.047), paternal education (OR = 0.641; p = 0.024), employment (OR = 0.542; p = 0.028) and participation in extracurricular activities (OR = 1.275; p = 0.007). There was a proportional difference between knowledge and use of CAM ranging from 2:1 to 11:1 among the 21 modalities. University students believed that CAM could promote a healthy university environment (p = 0.000), which was influenced by gender (OR = 2.089; p = 0.004) and knowledge of CAM (OR = 16.601; p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: University students' knowledge of CAM was influenced by the health profession program, paternal education, employment and participation in extracurricular activities. The percentage of use of CAM modalities was lower than the percentage of knowledge. University students' belief that CAM could foster a healthy university environment is influenced by gender and knowledge of CAM.