The average score on the nutrition knowledge quiz was 69.5%, with 130 participants (50.6%) scoring below the school's passing rate of 72.5%. No significant differences were observed between male and female students by average quiz score (mean, 68.7% vs 70.0%;
t=0.769;
P=.442) or individual quiz questions (
Table 2). However, second-year students performed better on the quiz compared with first-year students (mean, 74.2% vs 65.9%;
t=−5.17;
P<.001;
Table 2). Specifically, second-year students were more likely than first-year students to understand energy density (73 [65.2%] vs 57 [41.0%], respectively; χ
2=19.3;
P<.001), energy balance (33 [29.5%] vs 26 [18.7%], respectively; χ
2=4.9;
P=.027), types of fatty acids (87 [77.7%] vs 90 [64.7%], respectively; χ
2=8.7;
P<.001), gastroesophageal reflux (94 [83.9%] vs 95 [68.3%], respectively; χ
2=15.1;
P<.001), risk for insulin resistance (79 [70.5%] vs 82 [59.0%], respectively; χ
2=5.9;
P=.015), and medical nutrition therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (102 [91.1%] vs 118 [84.9%], respectively; χ
2=11.5;
P<.001). First-year students performed better than second-year students on one question about the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet (110 [79.1%] vs 69 [61.6%]; χ
2=7.9], respectively;
P=.005). Questions in which both first- and second-year students performed below the school passing rate included questions about energy density, energy balance, cholesterol guidelines, medical nutrition therapy to lower serum cholesterol, and insulin resistance.