A Comparison of Clinical Nutrition Knowledge and Nutritional Behavior of College Students Majoring in Korean Oriental Medicine vs. College Students Majoring in Food and Nutrition

한의학 전공 대학생과 식품영양학 전공 대학생의 임상 영양지식과 영양 실천도 비교

This study examined two groups of students Korean Oriental Medicine majors and Food and Nutrition majors and compared their knowledge of clinical nutrition as well as their tendency to follow healthy lifestyles. In all, 204 college juniors and seniors majoring in Food ＆ Nutrition, and 324 sophomores majoring in General Korean Oriental Medicine were given a questionnaire. Overall, knowledge of clinical nutrition(out of twenty questions) was significantly higher among the students majoring in food and nutrition (p<0.01). Specifically, these students obtained a higher score in the questions pertaining to the following topics: nutritional support(p<0.05), the relationship between menopause and blood cholesterol(p＜0.01), the relationship between weight control and carbohydrates(p＜0.01), the relationship between gout and protein(p＜0.10), the relationship between hyperlipidemia and carbohydrates(p＜0.01), the relationship between trans fatty acids and atherosclerosis(p＜0.01), the relationship between blood potassium levels and kidney disease(p<0.01), and the relationship between weight control and diet and water(p＜0.05). Conversely, students studying General Korean Oriental Medicine had a better knowledge of the relationship between malnutrition and the mortality rate and health complications(p＜0.01). The questions relating to a healthy diet and lifestyle indicated that students majoring in Food and Nutrition had higher incidences of diet irregularity and a higher missing rate (p<0.01); they were more interested in calorie content and nutrients in their diet(p＜0.05); and they were more likely to study about nutritional knowledge during their leisure time (p＜0.01). The results also indicated, however, Korean Oriental Medicine students consumed proportionally more vegetables(p<0.05); and they were more likely to take the stairs than the elevator(p＜0.01).