Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences Students

Objectives: Little is known about supplement users and their dietary behavior in India. This study was conducted with the following objectives: 1. To determine the usage of dietary supplements in health sciences students. 2. To determine their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding micronutr...

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Main Authors: Ajitha Sharma, Shalini Adiga, Ashok M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2014-08-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/4683/9329_CE(Ra)_F(Sh)_PF1(SNAK)_PFA(AK).pdf
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spelling doaj-a601a364f9534fe48e2e3276f336c2fa2020-11-25T03:47:13ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2014-08-0188HC10HC1310.7860/JCDR/2014/9329.4683Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences StudentsAjitha Sharma0Shalini Adiga1Ashok M.2Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India.Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India.Business Executive, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Bangalore, India.Objectives: Little is known about supplement users and their dietary behavior in India. This study was conducted with the following objectives: 1. To determine the usage of dietary supplements in health sciences students. 2. To determine their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding micronutrients. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional, questionnaire based study conducted at a University in south India, which included second year students pursuing medical, dental and nursing courses. Data was analysed using SPSS version 19. Results: The commonest reasons for consuming supplements were to maintain good health (136, 40.1%) and ensure adequate nutrition (125, 36.9%). The respondents’ opinions about dietary supplements were generally between ‘unsure’ and ‘agree’. Medical students scored the highest percentage (44.84%) in their knowledge about micronutrients as compared to nursing (43.17%) and dental (37.8%). There was a significant difference between the scores of medical and dental students (p=0.005) while the scoring of students of medical and nursing did not vary significantly. There was no significant difference between the scoring percentage of males and females in medical and dental groups while in the nursing group female students scored a better percentage as compared to males (p=0.036). Conclusion: Although, the usage of dietary supplements in health sciences students is high, there is a dearth of knowledge, especially regarding role of micronutrients in health and disease. Hence, it is crucial this information must be highlighted in the health sciences curriculum with the objective of producing wellinformed professionals who can later on have a positive impact on the health of society.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/4683/9329_CE(Ra)_F(Sh)_PF1(SNAK)_PFA(AK).pdfattitudedietary supplementshealth sciencesknowledgepractices
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Ajitha Sharma
Shalini Adiga
Ashok M.
spellingShingle Ajitha Sharma
Shalini Adiga
Ashok M.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences Students
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
attitude
dietary supplements
health sciences
knowledge
practices
author_facet Ajitha Sharma
Shalini Adiga
Ashok M.
author_sort Ajitha Sharma
title Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences Students
title_short Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences Students
title_full Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences Students
title_fullStr Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences Students
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Dietary Supplements and Micronutrients in Health Sciences Students
title_sort knowledge, attitude and practices related to dietary supplements and micronutrients in health sciences students
publisher JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
series Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
issn 2249-782X
0973-709X
publishDate 2014-08-01
description Objectives: Little is known about supplement users and their dietary behavior in India. This study was conducted with the following objectives: 1. To determine the usage of dietary supplements in health sciences students. 2. To determine their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding micronutrients. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional, questionnaire based study conducted at a University in south India, which included second year students pursuing medical, dental and nursing courses. Data was analysed using SPSS version 19. Results: The commonest reasons for consuming supplements were to maintain good health (136, 40.1%) and ensure adequate nutrition (125, 36.9%). The respondents’ opinions about dietary supplements were generally between ‘unsure’ and ‘agree’. Medical students scored the highest percentage (44.84%) in their knowledge about micronutrients as compared to nursing (43.17%) and dental (37.8%). There was a significant difference between the scores of medical and dental students (p=0.005) while the scoring of students of medical and nursing did not vary significantly. There was no significant difference between the scoring percentage of males and females in medical and dental groups while in the nursing group female students scored a better percentage as compared to males (p=0.036). Conclusion: Although, the usage of dietary supplements in health sciences students is high, there is a dearth of knowledge, especially regarding role of micronutrients in health and disease. Hence, it is crucial this information must be highlighted in the health sciences curriculum with the objective of producing wellinformed professionals who can later on have a positive impact on the health of society.
topic attitude
dietary supplements
health sciences
knowledge
practices
url https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/4683/9329_CE(Ra)_F(Sh)_PF1(SNAK)_PFA(AK).pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT ajithasharma knowledgeattitudeandpracticesrelatedtodietarysupplementsandmicronutrientsinhealthsciencesstudents
AT shaliniadiga knowledgeattitudeandpracticesrelatedtodietarysupplementsandmicronutrientsinhealthsciencesstudents
AT ashokm knowledgeattitudeandpracticesrelatedtodietarysupplementsandmicronutrientsinhealthsciencesstudents
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