title: Medical school fails to improve Mediterranean diet adherence among medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) is associated with a reduced risk of several non-communicable chronic diseases. High levels of nutrition knowledge are associated with greater MeDi adherence irrespective of education and other socio-economic factors. The present study investigates whether attending medical school changes students' adherence to the MeDi.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in November-December 2014 using the 16-item KIDMED questionnaire, which inquiries into eating habits. Each respondent's KIDMED index (range 0-12), whose scores reflect 'poor', 'average' or 'good' MeDi adherence, was calculated. Scores were analyzed for gender, age and early/late medical school year. The Mann-Whitney U-test and the chi-square test were used for group comparisons. Ordinal logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for changes in MeDi adherence from early to late medical school after adjustment for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 1038 medical students (573 females) aged 18-34 years (mean 21.9 ± 2.4). There were 20.8% 'poor', 56.5% 'average' and 22.7% 'good' scores. Gender significantly affected scores (P < 0.01). In the ordinal logistic regression model the odds for greater MeDi adherence increased for the female gender (P < 0.05); females were 48% more likely to have a 'good' KIDMED score than their male peers, whereas early/late medical school year did not affect results [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.95; P = 0.15].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 70% of our medical students know very little about healthy eating and the MeDi. However, this knowledge is essential in their future profession both to support therapeutic decision-making and effective preventive actions.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy mfiore@unict.it.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.affiliation: 1 Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Venerando
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.affiliation: 1 Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sentina
authors.affiliation: 1 Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mauceri
authors.affiliation: 1 Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Agati
authors.affiliation: 1 Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Gea
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliveri Conti
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, PO Box 550, 35080, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra-Majem
authors.affiliation: 1 Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy 4 Operative Unit of Hospital Hygiene, University Hospital of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87-95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult