| The objective of thiscross-sectional descriptive survey was to determine the knowledge and behaviors on food supplements consumption of Undergraduates in UbonRachathani University. The participants were accidentally and stratified sampling from 388 undergraduates in 11 faculties.The data were collected using self-administered questionnaire. There were 432 subjects(111 %)enrolled into this study.
The results of students’ behaviors in using food supplement showed that protein, vitamin and mineral were the product with highest percent consumption (43.8%). In addition, these amount were purchased for themselves (40%) in order to promote their health (51.6%). However, the purchasing frequency was low (29.2%) and mostly were from drugstore (42.4%). In terms of attitude towards food supplements (5 dimensions; total score of 5), it was found that the subjects agreed to its safety with mean score of 3.67±2.65, it’s value 3.67±2.65, itsnecessity 3.75±2.65, the convenience 4.00±2.65 and the efficiency 3.75±2.65 For the study of knowledge in food supplements, the results revealed that 51 subjects (11.8%) were in high level of knowledge, 307 subjects (71.1%) were in intermediate level and74subjects(7.1%)were in low level. The highest level in knowledge was from students in faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (15.40±4.52) while the least was from students in faculty of Liberal Arts (8.16±4.52). Furthermore, the results demonstrated that students from health sciences group, sciences and technology group and arts with social group showed their mean knowledge at 14.54±4.51, 10.81±4.51and 8.42±4.51,respectively.
The results of this study indicated that the knowledge in food supplements of undergraduates in UbonRachathani University was in intermediate level. This might not be enough to choose or select the appropriate food supplements consumption in order to get the optimal efficiency. Therefore, it should be resolved by providing information about the food supplements to raise the awareness and to change attitudes for appropriate behavioral health to reduce the unnecessary supplements using. |