Perspectives of nursing students in Hong Kong on diet and health: Implications for nurse education

Aim: This study explored first year nursing students' perceptions of their nutritional and health status, from one Hong Kong educational setting,to assess and plan for future nursing education within this area. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which the dietary be haviours of 274 first-year nursing students was explored. Students completed a self-reported questionnaire that focused on daily dietary intake and self-perceived nutritional status. Results: The results showed that respondents had a low intake of daily fluid, dairy products, and fruit and vegetables (less than 2 portions per day). Forty percent of the respondents stated that they never had breakfast, and did not know their nutritional status or perceived it to be poorer than others. Conclusions: It is of concern that nursing students appear to have little knowledge or awareness of adequate dietary practices. The findings of this preliminary study reinforce the view that health education and health promotion strategies, in relation to lifestyle and dietary influences for disease risk, should be incorporated as explicit elements within the nursing curriculum. This could also support the move towards nurses as promoters of health, and not only carers of the sick.