General nutrition knowledge and malnutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices among nurses working in Lebanese...

The aim of the study is to assess the nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to malnutrition (M-KAP), as well as their general nutrition knowledge about food groups and nutrient sources (GNKQ2), and diet and disease relationships (GNKQ4) and determine the associated factors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses, using a multi-component questionnaire that assessed the socio-demographic characteristics, health and eating habits, M-KAP and sections Methodology and Discussion of the general nutritional knowledge questionnaire (GNKQ2 and GNKQ4).

Hospitals located in North Lebanon.

Nurses working in Lebanese hospitals (n 404).

A positive association was detected between malnutrition knowledge and each of malnutrition-attitudes (P < 0·001) and malnutrition-practices (P < 0·001) and between malnutrition-practices and malnutrition-attitudes (P < 0·001). Regression analysis revealed that males had lower GNKQ2 compared with females (P = 0·035), and compared with supervisor/chief nurses, practical and head nurses had lower GNKQ2 (P < 0·001 and P = 0·046, respectively). Additionally, practical nurses had lower GNKQ4 compared with supervisor/chief nurses (P = 0·011). M-KAP levels were significantly associated with occupational title and nationality (P = 0·032 and P = 0·008, respectively). Finally, M-practices were associated with hospital district (P = 0·043), and practical and head nurses had better adequate M-practices compared with supervisor/chief nurses (P = 0·001 and P = 0·016, respectively).

A better knowledge is significantly associated with better attitudes and practices, therefore, in order to improve the nutritional status of these patients; it is of prime importance to increase knowledge among nurses.