Sporculara Yönelik Beslenme Eğitimi Modülleri Oluşturma: “M-Öğrenme” Uygulama Örneği

Abstract

Nutrition plays an important role in athlete’s performance. Professional guides are needed for the athletes in order to perform the proper nutrition practices. In this study, it is aimed to create education modules containing current sports nutrition information, develop a mobile application for nutrition education of athletes, and examine the effect of mobile application on the nutritional knowledge level of athletes. In the study, modules were developed upon healthy food selection, nutrition before, during and after competition and training, eating behaviour disorders seen in athletes, special recipes for athletes nutrition, hidration in athletes, periodization of nutrition for athletes, weight management, nutrition after injuries, nutrition while traveling, nutritional ergogenic aids, sports foods etc. In the modules which were developed for the study; educational models/theories methods such as food grading, athlete’s plate models, role modelling, decision tree, infographic, goal setting, case study, trans theoretical model, problem-based learning, health belief model were involved. As for a pilot study; sports nutrition education was given to the athletes in the experimental group through mobile application called SporBes. No intervention was made in the control group. A total of 39 athletes, 19 in the experimental group (63,2% men, 36,8% woman) and 20 in the control group (75% men, 25% woman), were included in the study. Median age of the experimental group was 29 years while control group was 25.3 years. The scores of athletes’ pre-test on their nutrition knowledge level in the control and experimental groups were observed respectively as 34.5±23.7 and 32,1±18,9 points and their post-test scores were 37,0±24,9 and 54,7±15,3 points. Sports nutrition knowledge level of experimental group increased by 22,6±23,9 points (p<0,01). Sports nutrition education through mobile learning was found to be effective in increasing the sports nutrition knowledge level of athletes. In the nutrition education of athletes; accurate, accessible, economical, scientific mobile applications which include various learning methods and behaviour change strategies can be preferred.