COLLEGIANS’ READINESS TO CONSUME GRAINS: THE TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL OF CHANGE AS A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Collegians’ Readiness to Consume grains: The Transtheoretical Model of Change as a Theoretical Framework

Tiba Hayder Hadi ¹ and Mohammed Baqer Habeeb Abd Ali ² *

 Ministry of Health, Baghdad Health Directorate, Iraq;

1. Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, City of Baghdad, Iraq.

 Corresponding author: Tiba Hayder Hadi

Email: Tibahaider56@gmail.com

ORCID

ABSTRACT

A descriptive predictive design was used to guide this study. The study was conducted in Al-Qadisiyah University. The study included a convenience sample of 400 undergraduate students. The study instrument includes students’ sociodemographic sheet of age, gender, marital status, and grade. It also includes Stages of Change Scale for Grain Consumption, The Decisional Balance Scale for Grain Consumption, The Self-Efficacy Scale for Grain Consumption. Data Collection: Data were collected using an online google form for the period from March 5th, 2021 to April 22nd, 2021. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science, version 26. The descriptive statistical measures of frequency, percent, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe subjects’ sociodemographic characteristics. The inferential statistical measures of linear regression, Independent-Sample T-Test, and One-Way Analysis of Variance. The study results revealed that around a half were in the Contemplation Stage of Change for consuming grains, followed by those who are in the Preparation Stage of Change, and those who are in the Maintenance Stage of Change. According to the findings, the higher the family's socioeconomic position, the higher the perceived value of eating grains. Grains consumption has more drawbacks when one's BMI rises. There is a need by the community health nurses; in collaboration with Iraqi Ministry of Health and Mass Media, to initiate health education materials that raise the health awareness of individuals who are both overweight and obese about the vital role of consuming grain. There is a need to incorporate materials that highlight the vital role of consuming each of grain regularly into the curricula of various educational levels in Iraq.

Received - 05-06-2021, Reviewed - 08/07/2021, Revised/ Accepted- 03/08/2021

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization, in line with dietary guidelines around the globe, recognizes whole grains as an important component of a healthy diet (World health organization, 2020).

Nowadays, consumers are more conscious of the environmental and nutritional benefits of foods. Pseudocereals grains, edible seeds belonging to dicotyledonous plant species, are becoming a current trend in human diets as gluten-free (GF) grains with excellent nutritional and nutraceutical value. Pseudocereals are a good source of starch, fiber, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals such as saponins, polyphenols, phytosterols, phytosteroids, and betalains with potential health benefits.( Martínez-Villaluenga et al., 2020)

Chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, obesity, stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, and cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and lung cancer, as well as cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and lung cancer (Farvid et al., 2019; Lee et al., 2017; Vieira et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2015) Global health concerns, such as high all-cause mortality, are a source of death and impairment for millions of people (Anderson & Durstine, 2019). Grains have been found to protect against the development of certain chronic illnesses (Toups et al., 2020).

The presence of phytochemicals, which function as antioxidants, is one of the reasons that veggies help to prevent illnesses. (Tang et al.,2017).

METHOD

A descriptive predictive design will be used to guide this study, The study was carried out at Al-Qadisiyah University. The study subjects were recruited from 10 colleges in this university which College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Administration and Economics, College of Science, College of Sports, College of Law, College of Education. A non-probability convenience sample of (400) students who are enrolled in the aforementioned colleges based on a margin of error of 5%, confidence level of 95%, a population size of 18,000, and response distribution of 50%, the recommended sample size is 377, the final size is 400. The study instrument is composed of three parts and these parts are: Students Sociodemographic Sheet: This part includes the variables of (age, gender, grade, living arrangement, marital status, residency, level of education, household socioeconomic status which encompasses parents’ level of education, a household’s occupation, and family’s monthly income). The study instrument included the body mass index which is calculated by dividing the body weight (kilogram) by body height (m)2. The Stages of Change Scale A discrete specification of the criterion behavior for sufficient consumption is included in this scale (a discrete definition of consuming grins). The staging tool's items evaluated the reported level of current intake for each food (grains), as well as consistency and duration of consumption at a reported level, which was designed (26). The researcher used the Arabic version (27). All participants were asked to answer “yes” or “no” to questions on how many portions of each meal they consumed each day. (26) created a summary index, which refers to the expected relative balancing of the benefits (Pros) and drawbacks (Cons) of eating more vegetables. The researcher used the Arabic version (27). The Pros (10 items) and Cons (10 items) highlighted respondents’ perceptions of barriers and benefits important in their decision to increase consumption of grains products. These items were measured using a on a five-point Likert type scale ranging from one for (not important at all) to five for (very important). young adults can consume the recommended amounts of grains day, irrespective of their situation this situation-specific called Self-Efficacy. This scale includes 20 items that are measured on a visual analog scale that ranges from one for (not confident at all) to nine for (very confident). The scores of Self-Efficacy range from 20 to 180. Higher scores indicate greater self-confidence for consuming the aforementioned foods. Data were collected using an online survey “google form”.

Statistical analysis

The collected data were compiled and analysed using percentages, mean, median, and Chi-square tests using SPSS version 26. P values of 0.05 were used as a cut-off point for the significance of the statistical test.

RESULTS

The findings in Table (1) shows that the mean of age is 22.79 ± 3.19; most age 18-24-years (n = 309; 77.25%), followed by those whose age 25-30-years (n = 79; 19.75%), and those whose age 31-36-years (n = 12; 3.0%).

Concerning the gender, the most are females (n = 276; 69.0%) compared to males (n = 124; 31.0%). Regarding marital status, the majority are not married (n = 333; 83.25%, followed by those who are married (n = 61; 15.25%), those who are widow/widower (n = 4; 1.0%), and those who are divorced (n = 2; 0.05%).

With respect to grade, more than a quarter are fourth graders (n = 105; 26.25%), followed by those who are third graders (n = 94; 23.5%), those who are first graders (n = 77; 19.25%), those who are fifth graders (n = 40; 10.0%), and those who are sixth graders (n = 20; 5.0%).

Concerning the living arrangement, most reported that they have been living with parents (n = 300; 75.0%), followed by those who have other living arrangement (n = 44l 11.0%), those who have been living with mother (n = 43; 10.75%), those who have been living with father (n = 9; 2.25%),

and those who both have been living with relatives and friends (n = 2; 0.5%) for each of them.

Regarding residency, most reported that they have been living in urban areas (n = 254; 63.5%), followed by those who have been living in suburban areas (n = 90; 22.5%), and those who have been living in rural areas (n = 56; 14.0%).

With respect to family’s socioeconomic status, the socioeconomic status for more than a third is of lower middle class (n = 143; 35.75%), followed by those who are of upper middle class (n = 137; 34.25%), those who are of upper lower class (n = 98; 24.5%), those who are of upper class (n = 18; 4.5%), and those who are of lower class (n = 4; 1.0%).

Table (2) Show that most enjoy within normal proportion of body weight-to-height (n = 261; 65.25%), followed by those who are overweight (n = 98; 24.5%), those who are underweight (n = 23; 5.75%), those who are with obesity class I (n = 14; 3.5%), and those who are with obesity class II (n = 4; 1.0%).

Around a half are in the Contemplation Stage of Change for consuming grains (n = 198; 49.5%), followed by those who are in the Preparation Stage of Change (n = 111; 27.75%), and those who are in the Maintenance Stage of Change (n = 91; 22.75%), as shown in table (3).

Table (4) shows that is a statistically significant difference in Self-Efficacy for the consumption of vegetables among family’s socioeconomic class groups (p-value = .05).

 Table 1. Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics (N = 400)

Table 2. Participants’ distribution according to their body mass index

Table 3. Participants’ distribution according to their readiness to consume grain

Table 4. The difference in Self-Efficacy for consumption of vegetables among family’s socioeconomic class groups

DISCUSSION