Effectiveness of Webinar Assisted Nutritional Education Program on Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Nutrition in Special Situations among Undergraduate Students of Institutes Under Kalgidhar Trust - Baru Sahib, India

Abstract

Nutrition is a basic human necessity as well as a requirement for a long and healthy existence. During special occasions like fairs, festivals as well as in situations of disasters or pandemics like COVID 19, the nutrition pattern get affected and fluctuates which again highlights the importance of maintaining healthy nutrition status in the midst of these situations. The aim of study was to assess the effectiveness of nutritional education program on knowledge and attitude regarding nutrition in special situation among undergraduate students. Pre-experimental (one group pre and post- test design) was carried out in this study. Using non-probability voluntarily sampling, 156 undergraduate students were selected from selected institutes of Kalgidhar Trust Baru Sahib. Self-structured knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale were used to collect the data from study participants through google form media. After pre-test 2 online sessions conducted on nutrition in special situations through google meet, after 7 days of intervention post-test was conducted through same media. The results showed pre-test knowledge score was increase from 14.8 with SD 5.5 to post-test mean score was 25.3 with SD 3.5. Attitude pre-test score was increase from 32.3 with SD 2.6 to post-test mean score was 44.5 with a SD 2.62. In pre-test 104 (66.7%) had inadequate knowledge, 44 (28.2%) had moderate adequate knowledge and 8 (5.1%) had adequate knowledge; for attitude 4 (2.6%) had negative attitude, 149 (95.5%) had neutral attitude and 3(1.9%) had positive attitude. In post-test 9 (5.8%) had inadequate knowledge, 26 (16.7%) had moderate adequate knowledge and only a small number 121 (77.6%) had adequate knowledge; for attitude 8 (5.1%) had neutral attitude and 148(94.9%) had positive attitude no one had negative attitude. Thus, there was a significant increase in knowledge and attitude regarding nutrition in special situation at the level of p < 0.001 it revealed effectiveness of nutritional education program. Pre-test knowledge and attitude score had weak negative correlation (r= -0.06) and post-test knowledge and attitude score had moderate positive correlation (r= 0.21). The study findings revealed significant improvement in post-test knowledge and attitude which showed the effectiveness of nutritional education program. So webinar assisted nutritional education program in special situations will help to reduce the health diseases and boost immunity among undergraduate students.