Digital Healthy Diet Literacy and Self-Perceived Eating Behavior Change during COVID-19 Pandemic among Undergraduate Nursing and Medical Students: A Rapid Online Survey
Hoa Dam Thi Bao, Sep-2020, In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 7185, p. 14
Overview
Abstract:
Abstract: Assessing healthy diet literacy and eating behaviors is critical for identifying appropriate
public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the psychometric properties
of digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) and its association with eating behavior changes during the
COVID-19 pandemic among nursing and medical students. We conducted a cross-sectional study
from 7 April to 31 May 2020 at 10 public universities in Vietnam, in which 7616 undergraduate students aged 19–27 completed an online survey to assess socio-demographics, clinical parameters,
health literacy (HL), DDL, and health-related behaviors. Four items of the DDL scale loaded on
one component explained 71.32%, 67.12%, and 72.47% of the scale variances for the overall sample,
nursing, and medical students, respectively. The DDL scale was found to have satisfactory item-scale
convergent validity and criterion validity, high internal consistency reliability, and no floor or ceiling
effect. Of all, 42.8% of students reported healthier eating behavior during the pandemic. A 10-index
score increment of DDL was associated with 18%, 23%, and 17% increased likelihood of healthier
eating behavior during the pandemic for the overall sample (OR, 1.18; 95%CI, 1.13, 1.24; p < 0.001),
nursing students (OR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.10, 1.35; p < 0.001), and medical students (OR, 1.17; 95%CI, 1.11,
1.24; p < 0.001), respectively. The DDL scale is a valid and reliable tool for the quick assessment of
digital healthy diet literacy. Students with higher DDL scores had a higher likelihood of healthier
eating behavior during the pandemic.
public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the psychometric properties
of digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) and its association with eating behavior changes during the
COVID-19 pandemic among nursing and medical students. We conducted a cross-sectional study
from 7 April to 31 May 2020 at 10 public universities in Vietnam, in which 7616 undergraduate students aged 19–27 completed an online survey to assess socio-demographics, clinical parameters,
health literacy (HL), DDL, and health-related behaviors. Four items of the DDL scale loaded on
one component explained 71.32%, 67.12%, and 72.47% of the scale variances for the overall sample,
nursing, and medical students, respectively. The DDL scale was found to have satisfactory item-scale
convergent validity and criterion validity, high internal consistency reliability, and no floor or ceiling
effect. Of all, 42.8% of students reported healthier eating behavior during the pandemic. A 10-index
score increment of DDL was associated with 18%, 23%, and 17% increased likelihood of healthier
eating behavior during the pandemic for the overall sample (OR, 1.18; 95%CI, 1.13, 1.24; p < 0.001),
nursing students (OR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.10, 1.35; p < 0.001), and medical students (OR, 1.17; 95%CI, 1.11,
1.24; p < 0.001), respectively. The DDL scale is a valid and reliable tool for the quick assessment of
digital healthy diet literacy. Students with higher DDL scores had a higher likelihood of healthier
eating behavior during the pandemic.
Keyword(s): COVID-19; coronavirus; health literacy; digital healthy diet literacy; psychometric properties; eating behavior; nursing student; medical student; online survey; Vietnam
| Article number | 14 |
| Journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
| Issue number | 17, 7185 |
| Publication status | Published - Sep-2020 |