Dale M Hilty
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Title: Innovative method to improve nursing student nutrition knowledge
Biography
Biography: Dale M Hilty
Abstract
Unique Innovation: The goal of this project was to improve student knowledge regarding how different diet choices hinder an
individual’s ability to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A 30-minute presentation included a nutrient analysis per
meal for four diets: Omni Heart, Fancy Fast Foods (Panera), Fast Foods (McDonald's), and Snack Diets (Vending Machine).
Undergraduate nursing students observed how choosing two Omni Heart meals per day plus one meal from any of the other
three diets resulted in positive energy balance and the potential for significant weight gain.
Method: Independent variable: 30-minute presentation. The dependent variables were student completion of (1) cognitive
nutrition pre/post-test questions (2pre/post-test Nutrition Assessment Questionnaire (NAQ). Fiber, added sugars, fats, protein,
and sodium subscale scores are available for the NAQ. Subjects: Undergraduate students (66, 3rd year; 64, 1st year students).
Hypothesis: The 30-minute presentation will cause a statistically significant improvement on the pre- and post-test cognitive
questions and the overall NAQ score as well as on the fiber, added sugars, fats, protein, and sodium subscales.
Favorable Outcomes: Statistically significant differences (p<003, dependent t-test) were found on each of the dependent
variable measures (cognitive knowledge questions, overall NAQ total score, NAQ subscales: fiber, added sugars, fats, protein,
and sodium).
Application Relevance: In this educational intervention, student nutrition knowledge increased significantly from the pre to
the post-test measures based on the independent variable (30-minute classroom presentation). These findings could facilitate
health promotion efforts by increasing nursing student self-knowledge and their ability to educate patients.