An investigation of the relationship between surgical nurses' attitudes towards healthy nutrition and their e-healthy nutrition literacy

The nursing profession is exposed to numerous health risks due to long and irregular working hours, heavy workloads, and physical and emotional stress. Nurses working in surgical units—where acute clinical situations are frequently encountered—are particularly at greater risk as a result of irregular schedules and increased workload. These professional conditions can negatively impact dietary habits, which are among the fundamental components of a healthy lifestyle. In mitigating the adverse effects of working conditions on nutritional behavior, nurses' attitudes toward healthy nutrition emerge as a significant determinant. Moreover, in the digital information age, individuals' attitudes and behaviors regarding nutrition can be influenced by information obtained from digital sources such as the internet and social media. In this context, e-healthy nutrition literacy is becoming increasingly important among the factors shaping nurses' attitudes toward healthy nutrition. This study aims to examine the relationship between surgical nurses' attitudes towards healthy nutrition and their levels of e-healthy nutrition literacy. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between February 15 and May 15, 2024, with 376 nurses working in the surgical clinics of Afyonkarahisar State Hospital and Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Health Practice and Research Center. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition and the e-Healthy Diet Literacy Scale. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Version 25.0. The average age of the surgical nurses was 32.32±6.20 years, and their mean duration of professional experience was 9.62±6.83 years. Of the nurses, 58.5% (n=220) were female and 41.5% (n=156) were male. The mean score for e-healthy nutrition literacy was 39.00±8.33, while the mean score for attitudes towards healthy nutrition was 71.34±12.01. A positive correlation was found between e-healthy nutrition literacy and attitudes towards healthy nutrition (r=0.469, p <0.001). Additionally, e-healthy nutrition literacy was a positive predictor of attitudes towards healthy nutrition (B=0.676, p=0.000). In conclusion, it can be stated that surgical nurses generally have a positive attitude towards healthy nutrition, although their level of e-healthy nutrition literacy is not at an optimal level. Furthermore, it can be inferred that as the level of e-healthy nutrition literacy increases, attitudes towards healthy nutrition tend to become more positive.