Nutritional status of the student nurses of a tertiary health-care center – A mixed-method study

Abstract

Context: Nursing students are the future role model of health; so critical evaluation of their nutritional status is imperative for effective functioning of health sector. Aims: The aim is to assess the nutritional status of nursing students using basal metabolic index and exploring the causes of malnutrition along with uncovering the causes behind these causes of malnutrition. Setting and Design: Nutritional status of student's nurses was assessed by mixed-method study design in tertiary care center of Mumbai, India. Materials and Methods: The method is to use the census method for sampling 280 nursing students of a tertiary care center interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule. Focus group discussions were held with student nurses, which were selected through purposive sampling technique to interpret the instigator causes behind causes of malnutrition. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics was applied on qualitative data. Conceptual model framed on themes and subthemes based upon the codes from qualitative data. Results: Students having BMI less than 18 and more than 24.9 were 189 and 11, respectively, out of 280 students. About 64.20% had acidity and 11.07% performed regular exercises evolving major themes: challenges, stress, attitude, knowledge, social barriers, and motivators. Conclusion: About 67.5% of nursing students had BMI less than 18. Inappropriate dietary pattern, frequent ailments, and improper personal habits ensued their malnourished status. Lack of proper knowledge on balanced diet, work place stress, and challenges such as financial constrain, peer pressure, and health ailments along with improper perception of body image of the student nurses are major triggering factors behind the causes of malnutrition.

The Prevalence of Anemia in Working Women

“…In our study, 101 (56.1%) consumed green leafy vegetables two times or less per week, out of which 41.5% were found to be anemic, while for those who consumed three or more in a week, 41.7% were anemic. Hadaye et al reported similar decreased compliance toward healthy eating in their study at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India, in which 70 out of 280 students (25%) consumed green leafy vegetables only once a week [ 13 ]. Although the diagnosis of anemia is simple, it goes unnoticed for a prolonged duration due to its non-specific clinical signs and a lack of testing and patient education on the symptoms of anemia.…”

Effect of shift work on dietary habits and occupational stress among nurses in a tertiary care centre: An observational study

“…India has an average of 1 nurse for every 2500 residents, compared with 1 for every 150–200 in developed countries. [ 3 ] It is a stressful profession with a lot of workload, which may have ill effects on the physical and psychological well-being of an individual’s health. [ 4 ] The job of nurses requires working in irregular shifts along with bearing heavy physical and psychological demands, which, in turn, risk their overall health status.…”