Comportamiento alimentario en internos rotativos de enfermería

Abstract

Introduction: When nursing students begin their rotating internship in different health institutions, they face both a labour market and an academic environment that become an obstacle for them to achieve a healthy diet. Objective: To determine the eating behaviour of rotating nursing interns at Universidad Técnica de Ambato. Method: The study was conducted in a quantitative, cross-sectional approach, with a population of 173 rotating nursing interns, leading to a census sample. A survey called "Eating Behavior Questionnaire" was applied., focusing on food selection, preference, cooking method frequency of consumption, beliefs and barriers to change. Results: Predominant preferences included meat and chicken (61.27%), usually fried (34.68%), which were selected for their taste (40.46%) and price (24.28), due to the fact that more than 50% of the participants reported to eat out 3 to 6 times a week despite their intention to keep a healthy diet and exercise (38.73%). Conclusion: The eating behaviour of rotating nursing interns is generally unhealthy, as they prefer food for its taste and cooking method, however they seem to ignore nutritional value, avoid vegetables. Nevertheless, they state that they wish to improve their eating habits.