Dietary patterns in a nursing team measured by principal component analysis

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Understanding the dietary habits of healthcare professionals is crucial for public health initiatives.
• Nursing staff often face demanding work schedules that can influence food choices.
• Assessing dietary patterns in this population can inform targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the dietary patterns of nursing professionals at a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• To identify the primary food groups associated with distinct dietary patterns within this occupational group.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 309 nursing professionals (nurses, technicians, nursing assistants).
• Two 24-hour dietary recalls were collected and reduced to 24 food groups.
• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with orthogonal varimax rotation was used to identify dietary patterns.

Main Results:

• Three dietary patterns emerged: 'traditional' (rice, beans, meat), 'healthy' (vegetables, fruits), and 'snacks' (sugar, bread, sweets, non-alcoholic beverages).
• The 'traditional' pattern, characterized by rice, beans, and meat, was a significant finding.
• The sample comprised 85.8% female individuals.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a prevalent 'traditional' dietary pattern among Brazilian nursing professionals, centered on rice, beans, and meat.
• Further research is recommended to explore the health implications of these dietary patterns in nursing workers.
• These findings can guide the development of nutritional strategies for healthcare professionals.