Enhancing Knowledge and Attitudes Through the 'Healthy Nutrition' Education Program

Izmir Democracy University69 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to assess the impact of a "Healthy Nutrition" education program on the knowledge and attitudes towards healthy eating among elderly individuals residing in a Social Life Campus. The study utilizes a Solomon four-group experimental design, involving participants divided into an experimental group and a control group. Participants were selected based on their ability to effectively participate in the education program, with no psychological or neurological illnesses

The study was conducted using an experimental method to examine the effect of healthy nutrition education on the nutritional awareness and attitudes of older adults residing in a social living home for the elderly (SLHO) within the Izmir Buca Social Life Campus. The study was conducted between 01 February 2023 and 01 June 2024. The study was conducted among elderly residents aged 60 years and older, without psychiatric or neurological diseases. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups. The Solomon Four Group Design was utilized to compare the effects of the intervention, including pretest and posttest measurements to account for time-dependent changes. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Izmir Democracy University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee, with the decision numbered 2023/02-13, dated 01/02/2023. All participants signed an informed consent form before the study commenced. The "Healthy Nutrition" education program included two sessions lasting a total of 2 hours. The first session involved traditional presentation-based education, while the second session was an interactive question and answer session. Only the experimental group received this training. Data collection involved: Sociodemographic Data Form: Collected basic demographic information such as age, gender, and educational status. Nutrition Knowledge Scale (NKS) and Healthy Nutrition Attitude Scale (HNAS): Used to measure participants' nutritional knowledge levels and attitudes. These scales were administered both before and after the educational intervention to assess the potential impact of the program.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Must be a resident at İzmir Buca Social Life Campus. * Must be willing to participate voluntarily. * Must not have any psychological or neurological disorders (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's disease) that would prevent participation in the training. Exclusion Criteria: * Non-voluntary participation: Individuals who are not willing to participate voluntarily. * Presence of psychological or neurological disorders (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's disease) that would prevent participation in the training.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Nutrition Knowledge

The change in nutrition knowledge levels before and after the intervention will be assessed using the Nutrition Knowledge Scale (NKS). Developed by Yılmaz et al. in 2021, the NKS evaluates adult nutrition knowledge across food and nutrient knowledge, food preparation and cooking methods, and the relationship between nutrition and health. The scale includes both positive and reverse-scored items, rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 126, with higher scores indicating greater nutrition knowledge. Specific cut-off points are as follows: \<79 for low knowledge, 79-89 for medium, 90-100 for high, and \>101 for very high knowledge levels. Ref: Öngün Yılmaz, H., et al. (2021). Nutrition Knowledge Scale (NKS): Development, factor structure, and validation for healthy adults. Progress in Nutrition, 23(3). Available at: Mattioli 1885 Journals.

Time frame: Pre-test (baseline) and post-test (immediately after the intervention for experimental groups; same time points for control groups).

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Healthy Nutrition Attitudes

The change in attitudes towards healthy nutrition before and after the intervention will be evaluated using the Healthy Nutrition Attitude Scale (HNAS). Measurement Tool: The Healthy Nutrition Attitude Scale (HNAS) was developed by Demir and Cicioğlu in 2019. It consists of 21 items categorized into four factors: Nutrition Knowledge (NK), Emotional Attitude towards Nutrition (EAN), Positive Nutrition (PN), and Poor Nutrition (PN). The scale is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a more favorable attitude toward healthy nutrition. Scoring: The possible score ranges are: 21 points: Very low attitude 23-42 points: Low attitude 43-63 points: Moderate attitude 64-84 points: High attitude 85-110 points: Ideal level of healthy nutrition attitude