Perfil e expectativas de ingressantes do curso de nutrição da Universidade Federal do Pampa

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the profile and expectations of entering students of the Nutrition course of the Federal University of Pampa. The study was descriptive, in which 39 entering students answered a questionnaire about their demographic profile and their expectations regarding the course. Questions included topics such as the reasons to study Nutrition, how was your entrance at university and the areas of preference for professional activity. The research was conducted in 2017 and all entrants enrolled in the first semester of Nutrition were invited to participate. The majority of the students were female (84.62%), singles (92.31%) and with average age of 20.2 years. The students know about the Nutrition course by friends and research on the internet, mainly. The most important reason for opting for the course was interest in health and food/nutrition (59%). According to the students, they expect to learn about how to help anothers persons to improve their eating habits (37,5%), learn specific subjects (30%) and improve their own eating habits (17,05%). The area of major interest for professional practice was clinical nutrition (42,31%), followed by sports nutrition (26,92%). The places where they prefere to work in the future was clinics and hospitals (63,23%). Knowing the students' profile, as well as their expectations, can help in the pedagogical development of the Nutrition course.