Nutrition education and students' eating behaviors: an experimental study in Iran.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the effect of nutrition education program based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on the promotion of healthy nutritional behaviors of primary school students in Asadabad city.

METHODS

This interventional study was conducted on 152 school students (76 samples for each intervention and control group) in Asadabad City during the academic year 2023-2024. To assess healthy eating behaviors of children in primary school ages, a researcher-made questionnaire (43 questions) based on the constructs of planned behavior theory including attitude (10 questions), subjective norms (9 questions), perceived behavioral control (6 questions), behavioral intention (9 questions) and also nutritional behavior questions (9 questions) which were about healthy eating behaviors are common among primary school students. The teaching methods included lectures, brainstorming, group discussion, role playing, and educational video. The educational content needed for students in the intervention group was provided over five sessions based on the TPB, after analyzing the results from the pre-test stage. To determine the impact of the educational intervention, questionnaires were completed via self-report four months after the intervention.

RESULTS

Before the intervention, the two groups were comparable in terms of the variables studied. However, four months after the intervention, a significant improvement was observed in the scores of Knowledge (7.79 ± 3.01 vs. 3.16 ± 2.13, p < 0.001), Attitude (16.45 ± 6.04 vs. 6.45 ± 3.44, p < 0.001), Perceived Behavioral Control (6.92 ± 3.03 vs. 2.33 ± 3.05, p < 0.001), Behavioral Intention (6.18 ± 5.88 vs. 4.46 ± 3.98, p = 0.032), and Behavior (15.35 ± 5.25 vs. 8.36 ± 3.22, p < 0.001) in the intervention group compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study demonstrated the effectiveness and impact of an educational intervention based on the TPB in promoting the nutritional behaviors of primary school students. Therefore, according to the effective role of this theory, it can be used as a suitable framework for improving the health status in other populations and age groups.