Belogianni, Katerina (2019) Nutrition knowledge of university students and the impact of a game-based e-programme on students’ nutrition knowledge, diet quality and physical activity. (PhD thesis), Kingston University, .
Abstract
Studying at university is a challenging period with many students demonstrating unfavourable changes in their eating habits, physical activity behaviour and body composition. Universities should encourage health-promoting behaviours in students. The primary aim of this research was to identify dietary and physical activity interventions among university students, estimate their effectiveness, explore the nutrition knowledge of students and the impact of an intervention (e-programme) on students’ nutrition knowledge, diet quality and physical activity. First, a systematic review of systematic reviews was undertaken to identify and synthesise reviews targeting weight-related outcomes in university students globally. Eight reviews were identified, including 122 studies. The synthesis of findings demonstrated three main types of interventions: environmental, face-to-face and e interventions. A moderate overall effect was found for environmental, face-to-face and e-interventions on dietary intake and a low effect for face-to-face and e-interventions on physical activity behaviour. Second, a cross-sectional study was undertaken among UK-based university students (n=249) to explore nutrition knowledge, factors predicting a good level of knowledge and the relationship between knowledge and diet quality (n=86). The study demonstrated that students had an inadequate knowledge on fats, salt and weight management methods. Studying a health-related course, being of White ethnic origin or perceiving health as very good to excellent, predicted a good level of knowledge. An increase in knowledge of healthy food choices and diet-disease relationships was positively associated with diet quality. And third, a randomised controlled trial (RCT) was undertaken to investigate the impact of an online programme using quiz-games (e-programme) on nutrition knowledge, diet quality and physical activity in UK-based university students (n=88). No significant differences on outcomes were found between the intervention and the control group at the end of the trial (10 weeks). The null findings remained when adherence to the e-programme was considered. Quizzes had a short-term effect on students’ knowledge. Finally, 11 students participated in a following evaluation study and reported that the e-programme was easy to follow and interesting but that it had minor impact on their knowledge. This research provides new knowledge that could be used in designing more successful interventions within universities to address nutritional misconceptions and promote healthy changes in dietary and physical activity behaviour in students.
Actions (Repository Editors)
 |
Item Control Page |