Nutrients (Jul 2021)

Impacts of Digital Healthy Diet Literacy and Healthy Eating Behavior on Fear of COVID-19, Changes in Mental Health, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Front-Line Health Care Workers

  • Dinh N. Vu,
  • Dung T. Phan,
  • Hoang C. Nguyen,
  • Lan T. H. Le,
  • Huu C. Nguyen,
  • Tung H. Ha,
  • Hung K. Dao,
  • Manh V. Trinh,
  • Thinh V. Do,
  • Hung Q. Nguyen,
  • Thao T. P. Nguyen,
  • Thuy T. Le,
  • Cuong Q. Tran,
  • Khanh V. Tran,
  • Trang T. Duong,
  • Hai X. Pham,
  • Vinh-Tuyen T. Le,
  • Tuyen Van Duong

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082656
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 8
p. 2656

Abstract

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Background: We aimed to examine the impacts of digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) and healthy eating behaviors (HES) on fear of COVID-19, changes in mental health, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among front-line healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: An online survey was conducted at 15 hospitals and health centers from 6–19 April 2020. Data of 2299 front-line HCWs were analyzed—including socio-demographics, symptoms like COVID-19, health literacy, eHealth literacy, DDL, HES, fear of COVID-19, changes in mental health, and HRQoL. Regression models were used to examine the associations. Results: HCWs with higher scores of DDL and HES had lower scores of FCoV-19S (regression coefficient, B, −0.04; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, −0.07, −0.02; p = 0.001; and B, −0.10; 95% CI, −0.15, −0.06; p p = 0.029; and OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00, 1.07; p = 0.043); and HRQoL (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01, 1.03; p = 0.006; and OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02, 1.06; p = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: DDL and HES were found as independent predictors of fear of COVID−19, changes in mental health status, and HRQoL in front-line HCWs. Improving DDL and HES should be considered as a strategic approach for hospitals and healthcare systems.

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