Journal of North Khorasan

Abstract Background & Objectives: Improper diet can cause to the increased risk of overweight or obesity in students. Considering that the pattern of change stages is a known comprehensive model in the diet, this study aimed to evaluate change stages of diet and attitude toward nutrition in students of school of Nursing and Midwifery, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Methods and materials: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 300students from first to fourth year in school of Nursing and Midwifery in Bojnurd. Feeding behaviors of students were evaluated using the questionnaire of model of change stages in six areas, and interviews by trained interviewers. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software package (version19). Results Results : findings showed that 27% of students were in the prethinking stage, 42% of them were in the active stage(thinking, decision making, performance, maintaining), and 17% of participants were in the return stage. A significant association was seen between change stages and sex (p=0.045), marital status (p<0.001), body mass index (p<0.001), and the field of study (p=0.033.)The mean score of attitude toward nutrition was (3.7±1.43). Conclusions: The results showed that change stages of nutritional behaviors were desirable in these students, and positive attitude toward nutrition was observed in them. Demographic characteristics and other factors that cause progression to a higher stage of change can be effective to plan correcting the dietary pattern and maintaining it.