Balancing Knowledge and Health: A Comparative Analysis of Students and Healthcare Workers Nutrition Related Health Behaviors, a Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate nutrition-related health behaviors among nursing and medical students compared to healthcare workers (HCWs), including nurses and physicians. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and November 2022, using the I-MEDAS and lifestyle-related behavior questionnaires. The participants included nursing and medical students, nurses, and physicians, with a total of 384 participants: 16.9% physicians, 23.17% nurses, and 59.9% students, 93% of whom were nursing students. The average I-MEDAS score (out of 17) was 7 for physicians, 8 for nurses, and 8 for students, with no significant differences in lifestyle behavior scores between the groups (p = 0.11), although nurses tended to score lower. Nurses also had a significantly higher BMI compared to physicians and students (p < 0.001). Physicians and nurses reported lower engagement in leisure activities and household chores, fewer sleep hours, and poorer sleep quality. The findings highlight a decline in healthy lifestyle behaviors and poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet among HCWs and students, particularly nurses, emphasizing the need for interventions to promote healthier habits in these groups.