What do adults in Prince Edward Island know about nutrition?
OBJECTIVE
To assess adults' knowledge of dietary recommendations, food sources of key nutrients, food choices, and diet-disease relationships.


METHODS
A previously validated survey, designed to assess nutrition knowledge, was adapted for use in Prince Edward Island and mailed to a random sample of 3,500 adults (aged 18 to 74). Dillman's Total Design Method was followed and a response rate of 26.4% achieved. Mean scores and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the overall survey and for each section. Demographic variations were assessed by univariate analysis.


RESULTS
Of an overall possible score of 110 points, the mean score with 95% CI was 71.0 (70.1, 71.9). Respondents scored higher on the sections on dietary recommendations, food sources, and food choices than diet-disease relationships. Demographic differences existed in gender, age, education, and income. Findings suggest that adults have good general knowledge of dietary recommendations, but lack knowledge about how to make healthier food choices and the impact of diet on disease risk.


CONCLUSIONS
When designing intervention strategies, dietitians should consider targeted messages to provide adults with the information they need to make healthy food choices.
Gottschall-Pass
Kathy
K
Department of Family & Nutritional Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Sharlottetown, PE.
Reyno
Lauren
L
Maclellan
Debbie
D
Spidel
Mark
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011325:Prince Edward Island