This study was conducted to understand the knowledge level of vitamins and minerals, dietary practices, and nutritional education status of college students in Yeongnam region, and a total of 310 data were statistically processed using the SPSS V.23.0...
This study was conducted to understand the knowledge level of vitamins and minerals, dietary practices, and nutritional education status of college students in Yeongnam region, and a total of 310 data were statistically processed using the SPSS V.23.0 program as follows.
The gender of the survey subjects was 167 (53.9%) male students, 143 (46.1%) female students, and students aged 20-24 with 232 (74.8%) and students aged 25-29 with 78 (25.2%). Monthly income (pocket money) of "500,000 won or more” was the most 131 students (42.3%) and "Those whose family members did not work for nutrition, health, and medical care“ were 252 students (81.3%), and “non-majors” who had no relation to nutrition, health or health care were the highest with 249 students (80.3%). In other survey items, “drinkers” were 217 (70.0%), “non-smokers” were 230 (74.2%), average sleep time "exceeding 6 to 7 hours" was 119 (38.4%), "no exercise" in a week was 94 (30.3%), and students responding "normal" on their current health condition was the highest with 121 (39.0%).
The average correct answer rate for knowledge of vitamins and mineral supplements was 38.3%, with the highest scores for “female students”, “25-29 years of age” and “those whose family members work for nutrition, health or medical care,” and “those who specialize in nutrition, health or medical care.” The dietary practice score of the survey subjects was an average of 2.88 points out of 5 points, with high dietary practice scores for "non-drinkers," "more than five times a week” of exercise and "less than one to two hours" of exercise and those who think they are currently "very healthy."
As for whether or not the participants took nutrition-related courses, “yes” 78 (25.2%), "no" 232 (74.8%), with a high percentage of them taking the courses in “female students”, and “those whose family members work for nutrition, health, or medical care”, and “those whose major were related to nutrition, health or medical care”, and “top” group of nutrition knowledge score. Out of 78 students who answered that they took nutrition-related courses, as for whether or not they took courses related to vitamins and mineral supplements, “yes” 72 (92.3%), “no” 6 (7.7%), indicating that the experiences of taking nutrition-related courses mostly lead to taking courses related to vitamins and mineral supplements. On the need for nutrition education, 289 (93.2%) said they needed it, and 21 (6.8%) said they didn’t need it, indicating high percentage in the group of “25-29 years of age” and “top” group of nutrition knowledge score. As for the subject of interest in nutrition education, “nutrient intake standard” was the highest at 28.7%.
As for consuming vitamins and mineral supplements, “consumers” were 173 (55.8%) and “non-consumers” were 137 (44.2%), indicating a high percentage in monthly income (pocket money) of “500,000 or more”, exercise of “5 or more times a week”, “top” group in the nutrition knowledge score, and “top” group in dietary practice score. The most common reason why the consumers took vitamin and mineral supplementation was ‘recovery from fatigue’ with 105 students (31.4%). As for the number of vitamins and mineral supplements taken, “two” were the most common with 70 participants (40.5%), and "two" supplements were often taken in case of “20 to 24 years of age”, “non-drinkers” and those who considered themselves “a little unhealthy”. The intake frequency of “daily intake” was 110 (63.6%), the intake period of ‘less than 1 year’ was 80 (46.2%), and 97 (56.1%) of "a little knowledge" in the intake effect recognition, accounted for the largest percentage. Those who answered "check" on whether to check nutrition facts label was 109 (63.0%), with a high percentage of them checking the label in “those whose family members work for nutrition, health or medical care”, and “those who specialize in nutrition, health or medical care”, and “non-drinker”, and “top” group of nutrition knowledge score. The purchase route of “online shopping mall” was the most common with 114 (65.9%), and the percentage through the route was the highest in “non-smokers” and average exercise time per session of “30 minutes to 1 hour.” As a consideration for purchasing, “nutrition facts” was the highest with 90 students (52.0%), indicating that “price” and “nutrition facts” were mailny considered by male students, and “brand” and “review” by female students. Those who answered that they had “a slight effect” were 84 (48.6%) in terms of the intake effect experience, which was the highest, with a higher percentage in monthly income (pocket money) of “less than 100,000 to 200,000 won” and those who answered that their current health condition was “normal”. The number of purchasers with their own pocket money was 82 (47.4%), which is similar to the purchase by their parents with 81 (46.8%), and it was high percentage of purchase with pocket money when they were “25-29 years of age” and “500,000 won or more” of monthly income(pocket money). Those who experienced side effects was 19 (11.0%) and “stomach pain” was the most common with 7 (25.9%). On the other hand, the most common reason why “non-consumer” did not take vitamins or mineral supplements was “because it is bothersome” with 97 (45.1%). The survey showed ‘yes’ 270 (87.1%) for future consumption intention, indicating high percentage in “female” and monthly income(pocket money) of "less than 400,000 won to 500,000 won". Based on the results of the above study, the following suggestions will be made.
First, most of participants feel that nutrition education is necessary, but the experience of taking related courses is very low. In particular, it seems necessary to open nutrition education as liberal arts courses because non-major students have few opportunities to take nutrition-related courses and have a low rate of correct answers to knowledge about vitamins and mineral supplements.
Second, the purchase of vitamins and mineral supplements is often made online and many college students purchase them with their own pocket money, so they often consider their prices and nutrition facts. Therefore, the sales sites are required to display detailed and accurate information on the functionality and intake standards of supplements.
Third, if there are no nutrition, health, or medical workers among family members, it can be seen that the rate of checking the nutrition facts when purchasing vitamin and mineral supplements is low, and the knowledge score of vitamin and mineral supplements is low. Therefore, it is necessary to provide correct nutritional information by developing easy-to-access Internet or smartphone applications for college students who have difficulty obtaining nutritional information.