ความรู้เกี่ยวกับฉลากโภชนาการของผู้บริโภคในจังหวัดตรัง

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the knowledge on the use of nutrition labels among consumers at Trang Province. The data were collected from 6 groups of subjects including 119 diabetes patients, 94 hypertension patients, 78 hyperlipidemia patients, 100 undergraduate students, 76 students in grade 12 students and 161 housewives. The questionnaire by Sayanit Sunthornnon (2009) was employed to assess the abilities to use nutrition labels. The results showed that diabetes patients had a low to moderate level on all six studied variables including general knowledge on nutrition labels, knowledge on nutrients, ability to search information on the labels, the ability to use information on the label for calculation of nutrition need, the ability to compare various brands in term of nutrients, and the ability to select products for use in patients with chronic diseases. Housewives and hypertension patients had a moderate level on all six studied variables. hyperlipidemia patients, students in grade 12 students and undergraduate students showed a moderate to high level of scores on all six studied variables. The strongest predictors of nutrition knowledge were education (higher vocational certificate and higher levels) (B=0.312) follow by education (grade 10-12 or vocational certificate) (B-0.230), and education (grade 7-9) (B=0.121). The strongest predictors of basic knowledge on nutrition label were nutrition knowledge (ẞ-0.263), and education (higher vocational certificate and higher levels) (B=0.146). The strongest predictors of ability on information searching were nutrition knowledge (B=0.206) follow by basic knowledge on nutrition label (B=0.197), education (higher vocational certificate and higher levels) (B-0.183), and education (grade 10-12 or vocational certificate) (B=0.145). Factors affecting the ability to calculate nutrition need were information searching (B-0.369) follow by education (higher vocational certificate and higher levels) (B=0.252), nutrition knowledge (B-0.104), and basic nutrition knowledge (B=0.079). Ability to search information (B-0.484), and basic nutrition knowledge (B-0.089) affected the skill to compare nutrition among brands. Ability to search information (B-0.429), age (B=-0.127), and basic nutrition knowledge (B-0.095) affected influenced ability to select product for use in patients with chronic diseases.Overall, diabetes patients had a low level on knowledge on the use of nutrition labels. They should be the target for intensive educational programs on the issue. Basic knowledge on nutrition labels, nutrition knowledge and ability to search for information on the labels affects many abilities including ability to calculate, ability to compare various brands in term of nutrients and product selection for patients with chronic diseases. They should be formally included in school lessons in order to prepare students to be able to use nutrition efficiently.