General nutrition knowledge and malnutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices among nurses working in Lebanese hospitals
Zeina El-Ali, Maha Dankar, Rosy MitriAbstract
Objective:
The aim of the study is to assess the nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to malnutrition (M-KAP), as well as their general nutrition knowledge about food groups and nutrient sources (GNKQ2), and diet and disease relationships (GNKQ4) and determine the associated factors.
Design:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses, using a multi-component questionnaire that assessed the socio-demographic characteristics, health and eating habits, M-KAP and sections Methodology and Discussion of the general nutritional knowledge questionnaire (GNKQ2 and GNKQ4).
Setting:
Hospitals located in North Lebanon.
Participants:
Nurses working in Lebanese hospitals ( n 404).
Results:
A positive association was detected between malnutrition knowledge and each of malnutrition-attitudes ( P < 0·001) and malnutrition-practices ( P < 0·001) and between malnutrition-practices and malnutrition-attitudes ( P < 0·001). Regression analysis revealed that males had lower GNKQ2 compared with females ( P = 0·035), and compared with supervisor/chief nurses, practical and head nurses had lower GNKQ2 ( P < 0·001 and P = 0·046, respectively). Additionally, practical nurses had lower GNKQ4 compared with supervisor/chief nurses ( P = 0·011). M-KAP levels were significantly associated with occupational title and nationality ( P = 0·032 and P = 0·008, respectively). Finally, M-practices were associated with hospital district ( P = 0·043), and practical and head nurses had better adequate M-practices compared with supervisor/chief nurses ( P = 0·001 and P = 0·016, respectively).
Conclusion:
A better knowledge is significantly associated with better attitudes and practices, therefore, in order to improve the nutritional status of these patients; it is of prime importance to increase knowledge among nurses.