Frontiers in Public Health (Sep 2022)

Correlation between dietary information sources and knowledge of adequate diets in Eastern China

  • Bin Cui,
  • Bin Cui,
  • Bin Cui,
  • Linda Dong-Ling Wang,
  • Linda Dong-Ling Wang,
  • Fu Rong Wang,
  • Jing Peng,
  • Jian Ying Ma,
  • Xiang Chen,
  • Xiang Chen,
  • Mei Yin Xu,
  • Jun Ke,
  • Yi Tian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.955766
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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Knowledge of adequate diets can improve an individual's health status. Although previous studies have identified the main resources from which Chinese people acquire dietary knowledge, it is still unclear whether information sources regarding diets (ISRDs) can increase individuals' knowledge of adequate diets (KAD) and which ISRDs are most effective in conveying KAD to the Chinese population. In this study, we interviewed 4,710 residents in Eastern China regarding their ISRDs and KAD. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the effectiveness of different ISRDs in transmitting KAD to Chinese individuals and to determine the relationship between ISRDs and KAD. Results showed that the KAD scores of the respondents were low overall in Eastern China. Providing dietary information through expert lectures, books, newspapers, magazines, and social media could significantly improve the average KAD score of Chinese individuals. Respondents with a greater number of ISRDs were more likely to have higher KAD scores. These findings suggest that the number of ISRDs should be increased. In particular, emphasis should be placed on the role of expert lectures, books, newspapers, magazines, and social media.

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