Relationship between cardiovascular risk factor knowledge and physical activity, nutritional attitudes, and psychological symptoms in health sciences students

Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between health science students' knowledge level of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and their nutritional attitudes, physical activity level, depression, anxiety, and stress.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 434 undergraduate students (79% female, 21% male) studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Knowledge Level (CARRF-KL), nutritional attitudes (Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN)), physical activity level, depression, stress, and anxiety levels (DASS-21) were assessed. Since there is no cutoff point for CARRF-KL, the data were analyzed by separating them into quartiles.Results: The mean CARRF-KL score of the students was 19.98±5.06. Students with higher CARRF-KL scores had statistically significantly higher ASHN and walking MET values ​​(p<0.05). The scores for vigorous and moderate physical activity and DASS-21 were similar in the CARRF-KL groups (p>0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between CARRF-KL and the ASHN (r=0.279, p<0.001) and walking MET (r=0.178, p=0.004).Conclusion: Increased knowledge about CVD risk factors was associated with increased healthy daily behaviors, such as walking, and nutrition attitudes, but not with psychological factors or high-intensity physical activity. Since health science students will be professionals providing health counseling to the community, increasing their knowledge and awareness of CVD risk factors is crucial. Increased knowledge may make healthy lifestyle behaviors sustainable, thus enabling them to serve as role models.