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Abstract
Objective: The objective of the study is to find the association between outdoor meal consumption and digestive health in students dwelling in hostels of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 297 undergraduate medical students dwelling in hostels of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar for one month. Data collection was carried out through an adapted questionnaire. A pilot test was performed for testing the questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 20 version.
Results: The study revealed that most students (38.4%) consumed outdoor meals two to three times a week. Dinner was the most popular choice, favored by 38.4% of students. Dissatisfaction with hostel-cooked meals was a significant factor, with 57.6% of students citing it as their reason for choosing outdoor meals. Street food emerged as the most preferred type of outdoor meal, relished by 38.4% of hostel residents.
Conclusion: The study found that the majority of the hostel-dwelling medical students ate two to three times a week from outdoor sources, especially dinner. Dissatisfaction with hostel meals was a key reason, with street food being the most preferred option. A significant association was observed between outdoor meal consumption and digestive issues. These findings underscore the need to improve hostel meal quality and taste to promote healthier dietary habits.
Key Words: Outdoor meals; Hostel Dwellers; Digestive health.
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