Effect of Nutrition Education on Nursing Students' Health Behaviors and Sleep Quality

This interventional study is designed to examine the impact of a structured nutrition education program on nursing students' health-related behaviors, including nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes and behaviors, physical activity level, and sleep quality. Nursing students represent a critical population, as they are future health professionals who will play an important role in health promotion and patient education. However, during university education, nursing students may develop unhealthy eating patterns, low physical activity levels, and poor sleep quality due to academic demands and lifestyle changes.

The study will be conducted at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, at Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University. Eligible participants include undergraduate nursing students who have not previously received formal nutrition education and who voluntarily agree to participate in the study.

The intervention consists of a structured nutrition education program delivered over multiple sessions. The education content includes basic nutrition principles, food groups, balanced diet concepts, healthy food choices, nutrition-health relationships, and lifestyle factors related to physical activity and sleep. The education program is designed to increase awareness and encourage healthier behaviors rather than to provide clinical treatment.

Data collection will occur at three time points: before the intervention (baseline), immediately after completion of the nutrition education program, and three months after the intervention to assess the sustainability of potential changes. Data collection tools include questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, food consumption frequency, physical activity level, and sleep quality. Physical activity will be evaluated using a standardized physical activity questionnaire, and sleep quality will be assessed using a validated sleep quality index.

The primary objective of the study is to assess changes in nutrition knowledge following the education program. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in dietary behaviors, physical activity level, and sleep quality over time. Statistical analyses will be conducted to compare outcomes across the three measurement points.

This study involves minimal risk to participants. The intervention is educational in nature and does not include invasive procedures, medications, or medical devices. Ethical approval has been obtained from the institutional ethics committee, and informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to data collection. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence supporting the integration of structured nutrition education into nursing curricula to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors among students.

Inclusion criteria

• Undergraduate nursing students enrolled at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
• Aged between 18 and 30 years.
• Have not previously received formal nutrition education.
• Able to read and understand the study questionnaires.
• Willing to participate and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Having previously received structured or formal nutrition education.
• Presence of a medical condition that affects dietary intake or sleep patterns.
• Use of medications that significantly influence appetite, metabolism, or sleep.
• Unwillingness or inability to complete the study questionnaires.