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Factors associated with the academic performance of Nutrition students at a public university in southern Brazil

Fatores associados ao desempenho acadêmico de estudantes de Nutrição de uma universidade pública do sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT

Objective

To assess the association of socioeconomic factors, characteristics of the academic trajectory, and curriculum of students of a Nutrition course in the academic performance in the Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes.

Methods

A study of cross-sectional panels with secondary data (Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019) of 174 graduating students was carried out. Academic performance was classified into two groups, one with a score below the median and another above the median. The differences in median scores according to the variables were tested using the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, or non-parametric trend analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of the score variable with the other variables. The analyses were carried out using the Stata version 13.0 program, using a value of p<0.05 for the statistical decision.

Results

It was observed that the profile of graduating students was composed mainly of female individuals (92.5%), self-declared white (90.8%), and mostly coming from private schools (65.8%). Those who had some type of income obtained a higher score in Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes compared to those who did not have an income (61.8 vs. 57.4, respectively, p=0.010), and the curricular change seems to be the main variable in the chances of obtaining a score above the median of the course (OR: 1.92, p=0.046).

Conclusion

Financial status and curriculum change were associated with the academic performance of the assessed students. These results can be used as a reference for investigations in other institutions, public or private, of different courses and, thus, assist in planning more effective educational policies.

Keywords
Academic performance; Educational measurement; Nutrition

RESUMO

Objetivo

Avaliar a associação dos fatores socioeconômicos, características da trajetória acadêmica e currículo de estudantes de um curso de Nutrição com o desempenho acadêmico deles no Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes.

Métodos

Realizou-se o estudo de painéis transversais com dados secundários (Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 e 2019) de 174 estudantes concluintes. O desempenho acadêmico foi classificado em dois grupos, um com nota abaixo da mediana e outro acima da mediana. As diferenças de mediana de notas segundo as variáveis foram testadas por meio dos testes de Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis ou análise não paramétrica de tendência. A análise de regressão logística foi utilizada para avaliar a associação da variável nota com as demais. Utilizou-se o programa Stata versão 13.0 com valor de p<0,05 para a decisão estatística.

Resultados

Observou-se que o grupo de estudantes concluintes era composto majoritariamente por indivíduos do sexo feminino (92,5%), autodeclarados brancos (90,8%) e, em sua maioria, oriundos de escolas privadas (65,8%). Os que dispunham de algum tipo de renda obtiveram nota maior no Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes em relação àqueles que não possuíam renda (nota 61,8 vs 57,4, respectivamente; p=0,010), e a mudança curricular parece ser a principal variável nas chances de se obter uma nota acima da mediana do curso (OR: 1,92, p=0,046).

Conclusão

A situação financeira e a mudança curricular foram associadas ao desempenho acadêmico dos estudantes avaliados. Esses resultados podem ser usados como referência para investigações em outras instituições, públicas ou privadas, com estudantes de diferentes cursos, e, assim, auxiliar no planejamento de políticas educacionais mais efetivas.

Palavras-chave
Desempenho acadêmico; Avaliação educacional; Nutrição

INTRODUCTION

Expanding access to higher education caused a significant growth in the number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and, consequently, in the number of vacancies offered [11 Veloso TCMA, Souza BKG, Silva RAB. Cursos de graduação em nutrição no Brasil: análise do censo da educação superior e os resultados do Enade. Educ Front. 2011;1(1):92-106.].

Undergraduate courses in Nutrition followed the same trend, with intense growth in recent decades and a consequent increase in the number of professionals [22 Gabriel CG, Oliveira JTC, Silva BL, Fagundes AA, Silva TC, Soar C. Nutritionist’s job market: 80 years of history. Rev Nutr. 2019;32:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e180162
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e...
]. Between August 2009 and December 2018, there was an increase of 181.5% in on-site courses, representing a total of 709 courses in 2018 [33 Neves J, Zanlourensi CB, Domene SMA, Batista B, Calado CLA, Vasconcelos FAG. Eighty years of undergraduate education in nutrition in Brazil: an analysis of the 2009-2018 period. Rev Nutr. 2019;32:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e180158
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e...
].

In this context, monitoring the quality of professional training is extremely important. Since 2004, the evaluation of higher education has been conducted within the scope of the Sistema Nacional de Avaliação da Educação Superior (SINAES, National System for the Evaluation of Higher Education), designated by the Ministério da Educação (MEC, Ministry of Education). SINAES has 3 components: the focus element of this research, which is the Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes (ENADE, National Student Performance Exam); the Course Evaluation; and the Institutional Evaluation [44 Brasil. Lei nº 10.861, de 14 de abril de 2004 [cited 2021 May 14]. p. 5. Available from: http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2004-2006/2004/Lei/L10.861.htm
http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_At...
].

Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes evaluates the performance of graduates in relation to the syllabus provided for in the curriculum guidelines, the development of skills and abilities necessary for the deepening of general and professional training, and the level of updating of students in relation to the Brazilian and the world reality [55 Brasil. Nota técnica nº 20/2019/CGCQES/DAES [cited 2021 May 14]. p. 4. Available from: https://download.inep.gov.br/educacao_superior/enade/notas_tecnicas/2019/nota_tecnica_n20-2019_CGCQES-DAES_calculo_NF_Enade.pdf
https://download.inep.gov.br/educacao_su...
].

The analysis and discussion of ENADE data, especially Nutrition, is still scarce, even identifying that understanding factors associated with student performance may be crucial for planning more effective educational policies [66 Rocha ALP, Leles CR, Queiroz MG. Fatores associados ao desempenho acadêmico de estudantes de Nutrição no Enade. Rev Bras Estud Pedagog. 2018;99(251):74-94.,77 Francisco THA, Monteiro ECMS, Vefago YB, Mello PA. Uma reflexão sobre o ENADE: ações para a gestão de um importante elemento da avaliação. Rev Bras Ensino Super. 2018;4(3):57-73. https://doi.org/10.18256/2447-3944.2018.v4i3.2519
https://doi.org/10.18256/2447-3944.2018....
].

Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association of socioeconomic factors, characteristics of the academic trajectory, and curriculum on the performance in ENADE of students of the Nutrition course of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).

METHODS

A cross-sectional panel study with secondary data from the ENADE database (2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019) of 174 graduating students of the UFSC Nutrition course, provided by the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP/MEC).

The socioeconomic variables (age, sex, color/ethnicity, mother’s education, housing situation, total household income, employment situation, financial status, and the number of books read in the last year), academic trajectory (year of application of ENADE, receipt of grant during the undergraduate course, the form of admission to the university, and type of school that attended in high school) and curriculum studied (old curriculum for 2004, 2007, and 2010; current curriculum for 2013, 2016, and 2019) were described in relative frequencies (%).

The differences in the median scores according to socioeconomic variables, academic trajectory, and curriculum were tested using the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, or non-parametric trend analysis tests.

To verify the factors associated with academic performance, academic performance was considered as the outcome variable, represented by the gross score of the test (ranging from 0-100), which is the weighted average of the general training (25%) and the specific component (75%). The variable was classified into two groups: one with a score below the median and another with a score above the median.

Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of the variable score (dependent) with socioeconomic variables, academic trajectory, and curriculum. First, univariate logistic regression was performed, and the variables with a p-value <0.2 were selected for multiple analyses (models 1 and 2). Model 1 was adjusted for the variables age, self-declared color/ethnicity, mother’s education, financial status, and curriculum change. Model 2 was adjusted for the same variables, including the variable “receiving grant during the undergraduate course” and the exclusion of the variable change of curriculum since the grant variable was only incorporated into the ENADE database after 2013.

The analyses were performed using the Stata software, version 13.0. A p-value <0.05 was used for the statistical decision.

RESULTS

Table 1 describes the characteristics of the 174 students of the six years assessed. Mostly women, self-declared white, who lived accompanied, with income between 3 and 10 Minimum Wage (MW), who did not work, received grants, were admitted by broad competition, and came from private schools.

Table 1
Characteristics of students graduating from the undergraduate course in Nutrition at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. Florianópolis (SC), Brazil, 2019.

The financial status showed a statistically significant relationship with the median score (p=0.010). Those with some type of income performed better in the ENADE than those without (score 61.8 vs. 57.4, respectively). There was no difference in the ENADE score for the other variables studied (p>0.05) (Table 2).

Table 2
Median, 25th and 75th percentiles of the score of undergraduate students in Nutrition at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 according to socioeconomic variables, academic trajectory, and curriculum. Florianópolis (SC), Brazil, 2019.

In the multiple logistic regression of Model 1, students in the “New Curriculum” group were more likely (OR=1.92) (p=0.046) to score above the median compared to students in the old curriculum. In model 2, no statistical significance was observed between the variables and the ENADE score (Table 3).

Table 3
Association between socioeconomic variables, academic trajectory, and curriculum with the ENADE score of undergraduate students finishing the Nutrition course at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. Florianópolis (SC), Brazil, 2019. (n=174).

DISCUSSION

Although actions to democratize higher education have been taking place, there has been a predominance of self-declared white students from private schools, even with a reserve of 50% for public high school graduates, 16% for black/brown/indigenous, and 25% for per capita family income of 1.5 MW [88 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Comissão Própria de Avaliação (CPA). Relatório de Autoavaliação Institucional. Florianopólis: UFSC; 2021.]. Another aspect of this field of analysis is the mother’s education, with a predominance of education of more than 9 years of schooling, corroborating the understanding that the consolidation of affirmative action policies in the Nutrition course of the studied university is in process.

Contrary to this finding, in a study that analyzed the ENADE results of Nutrition graduates in 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013, characteristics were identified that lead to reflecting that there is greater access of less favored students to higher education, mainly through affirmative policies or vacancy reservation systems, which have among their criteria having attended a public high school and family income. Importantly, the study included both private and public universities, which may have contributed to such discordant findings [66 Rocha ALP, Leles CR, Queiroz MG. Fatores associados ao desempenho acadêmico de estudantes de Nutrição no Enade. Rev Bras Estud Pedagog. 2018;99(251):74-94.].

Another interesting result is many students with some type of grant. Considering that “having some type of income” had a positive effect on the ENADE performance and that, in this variable, income from a grant was included, highlighting the institutional effort to promote and maintain grant policies, in addition to several other benefits such as Food, Daycare, Housing, Exemption from the University Restaurant, among others, is relevant.

As of 2014, a counterpart of at least one grant at UFSC was included for every two grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), which impacted the actual increase in Scientific Initiation activities, in addition to the extension and monitoring grants that also help in this financial support to students [88 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Comissão Própria de Avaliação (CPA). Relatório de Autoavaliação Institucional. Florianopólis: UFSC; 2021.,99 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Pró-reitoria de Pesquisa (Propesq). Relatório de Atividades Florianopólis: UFSC; 2019 [cited 2021 Jan 10] Available from: https://prpe.paginas.ufsc.br/files/2009/09/Relatório-de-atividades-PROPESQ-2019-OFICIAL.pdf
https://prpe.paginas.ufsc.br/files/2009/...
]. Besides the financial issue, grants contribute to the pedagogical processes and intellectual, moral, critical, and creative training of the student [1010 Pinho MJ. Ciência e ensino: contribuições da iniciação cientifica na educação superior. Avaliação. 2017;22(3):658-75. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-40772017000300005].

Also noteworthy is the impact of the curriculum on student performance. The curriculum proposed as of 2009 was associated with the highest score in ENADE of the students graduating from the UFSC Nutrition Course, who were more likely to obtain a score above the median.

The current pedagogical project of the UFSC Nutrition Course results from a collective construction that involved professors, students, and professionals and took place amid a debate that pointed to the need for changes in higher education. The courses in the health area were mostly focused on the biological vision of man, with the fragmentation of knowledge, the appreciation of the clinic, and the secondary position of the social sciences [1111 Soares NT, Aguiar AC. Diretrizes curriculares nacionais para os cursos de nutrição: avanços, lacunas, ambiguidades e perspectivas. Rev Nutr. 2010;23(5):895-905. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-52732010000500019

12 Recine E, Gomes RCF, Fagundes AA, Pinheiro ARO, Teixeira BA, Sousa JS, et al. A formação em saúde pública nos cursos de graduação de nutrição no Brasil. Rev Nutr. 2012;25(1):21-33. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-52732012000100003
-1313 Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Programa Nacional de Reorientação da Formação Profissional em Saúde: Objetivos, Implementação e Desenvolvimento Potencial. Brasília: Ministério; 2009 [cited 2020 Dec 17] Available from: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/programa_nacional_reorientacao_profissional_saude.pdf
https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicaco...
].

Concerning training in Nutrition, a study involving professors from different undergraduate courses in Brazilian Nutrition courses pointed out that approaches based exclusively on biological aspects of nutrition are insufficient to deal with the food complexity. It is necessary to emphasize the appreciation of the social, economic, and cultural aspects involved in the training [1414 Almeida GM, Recine E, Fagundes A. Objectives and competencies in food and nutrition education in the brazilian undergraduate nutrition program. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019;52(4):385-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.001
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.0...
].

Also in a study on the training of nutritionists, the importance of the articulation between theory and practice in approaches within the triad “teaching – research – extension” was highlighted, as they can promote the development of skills and abilities with positive impacts on professional training [1515 Almeida GM, Oliveira KHD, Monteiro JS, Medeiros MAT, Recine EGIG. Educational training of nutritionists in Public Health Nutrition: a systematic review. Rev Nutr. 2018;31(1):97-117. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652018000100009
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652018000...
].

Following this path, the current pedagogical project of the UFSC Nutrition Course proposes integration between disciplines and professors from different areas, different practice scenarios, proximity to network professionals, and training based on the transversal axes “Health Promotion – Food and Nutrition Security – Human Right to Adequate Food”, besides health promotion based on the territory [1616 Neves J, Sousa AA, de Vasconcelos FAG. Professional qualification in public health nutrition at universidade Federal de Santa Catarina: Reflections on the teaching process to strengthen the Brazilian unified health system. Rev Nutr. 2014;27(6):761-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1415-52732014000600010
https://doi.org/10.1590/1415-52732014000...
]. This proposal, which provides for greater emphasis on actions in the community, is also recommended internationally. The group that makes up the World Public Heath Nutrition (WPHN) Capacity Building Task Force reinforces the importance of training the nutritionist to work in the community as a strategy to promote Food and Nutrition Security [1717 Shrimpton R, Du Plessis LM, Delisle H, Blaney S, Atwood SJ, Sanders D, et al. Public health nutrition capacity: assuring the quality of workforce preparation for scaling up nutrition programmes. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19:2090-100. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001500378X
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001500378...
].

The update of the pedagogical project seems to have reflected in the students’ learning process and demonstrates the importance of assessments and curricular updates for the best performance and training of professionals.

As limitations of the study, we pointed out the sample size, which resulted from the number of students who performed ENADE and had answered the socioeconomic questionnaire. Furthermore, it is centered on the data of students from a single institution, which may not reflect in the ENADE scores of all students from a public and federal university in the country.

Nevertheless, we emphasize that the study proposed the analysis of a tool with great potential for use to improve the course and training of undergraduate students effectively.

CONCLUSION

From this study, it was possible to identify the factors associated with the performance in ENADE of students of the Nutrition course of the Federal University of Santa Catarina.

As for the results, individuals who have some type of income scored higher in ENADE in relation to those who do not have income. Moreover, the curricular change instituted in the UFSC Nutrition course in 2009 seems to be the main variable increasing the chances of scoring above the median of the course.

This study contributed to identifying the characteristics of students of the Nutrition course of a public university in southern Brazil and can be used as a reference for investigations in other institutions, public or private, of different courses. Its findings can be part of institutional planning and considered by the bodies involved in public policies.

How to cite this article

  • Soar C, Salles VR, Filipini RE, Corrêa LS, Hinning PF. Factors associated with the academic performance of Nutrition students at a public university in southern Brazil. Rev Nutr. 2022;35:e210120. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865202235e210120

REFERENCES

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    Veloso TCMA, Souza BKG, Silva RAB. Cursos de graduação em nutrição no Brasil: análise do censo da educação superior e os resultados do Enade. Educ Front. 2011;1(1):92-106.
  • 2
    Gabriel CG, Oliveira JTC, Silva BL, Fagundes AA, Silva TC, Soar C. Nutritionist’s job market: 80 years of history. Rev Nutr. 2019;32:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e180162
    » https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e180162
  • 3
    Neves J, Zanlourensi CB, Domene SMA, Batista B, Calado CLA, Vasconcelos FAG. Eighty years of undergraduate education in nutrition in Brazil: an analysis of the 2009-2018 period. Rev Nutr. 2019;32:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e180158
    » https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865201932e180158
  • 4
    Brasil. Lei nº 10.861, de 14 de abril de 2004 [cited 2021 May 14]. p. 5. Available from: http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2004-2006/2004/Lei/L10.861.htm
    » http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2004-2006/2004/Lei/L10.861.htm
  • 5
    Brasil. Nota técnica nº 20/2019/CGCQES/DAES [cited 2021 May 14]. p. 4. Available from: https://download.inep.gov.br/educacao_superior/enade/notas_tecnicas/2019/nota_tecnica_n20-2019_CGCQES-DAES_calculo_NF_Enade.pdf
    » https://download.inep.gov.br/educacao_superior/enade/notas_tecnicas/2019/nota_tecnica_n20-2019_CGCQES-DAES_calculo_NF_Enade.pdf
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    Rocha ALP, Leles CR, Queiroz MG. Fatores associados ao desempenho acadêmico de estudantes de Nutrição no Enade. Rev Bras Estud Pedagog. 2018;99(251):74-94.
  • 7
    Francisco THA, Monteiro ECMS, Vefago YB, Mello PA. Uma reflexão sobre o ENADE: ações para a gestão de um importante elemento da avaliação. Rev Bras Ensino Super. 2018;4(3):57-73. https://doi.org/10.18256/2447-3944.2018.v4i3.2519
    » https://doi.org/10.18256/2447-3944.2018.v4i3.2519
  • 8
    Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Comissão Própria de Avaliação (CPA). Relatório de Autoavaliação Institucional. Florianopólis: UFSC; 2021.
  • 9
    Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Pró-reitoria de Pesquisa (Propesq). Relatório de Atividades Florianopólis: UFSC; 2019 [cited 2021 Jan 10] Available from: https://prpe.paginas.ufsc.br/files/2009/09/Relatório-de-atividades-PROPESQ-2019-OFICIAL.pdf
    » https://prpe.paginas.ufsc.br/files/2009/09/Relatório-de-atividades-PROPESQ-2019-OFICIAL.pdf
  • 10
    Pinho MJ. Ciência e ensino: contribuições da iniciação cientifica na educação superior. Avaliação. 2017;22(3):658-75. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-40772017000300005
  • 11
    Soares NT, Aguiar AC. Diretrizes curriculares nacionais para os cursos de nutrição: avanços, lacunas, ambiguidades e perspectivas. Rev Nutr. 2010;23(5):895-905. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-52732010000500019
  • 12
    Recine E, Gomes RCF, Fagundes AA, Pinheiro ARO, Teixeira BA, Sousa JS, et al A formação em saúde pública nos cursos de graduação de nutrição no Brasil. Rev Nutr. 2012;25(1):21-33. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-52732012000100003
  • 13
    Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Programa Nacional de Reorientação da Formação Profissional em Saúde: Objetivos, Implementação e Desenvolvimento Potencial. Brasília: Ministério; 2009 [cited 2020 Dec 17] Available from: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/programa_nacional_reorientacao_profissional_saude.pdf
    » https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/programa_nacional_reorientacao_profissional_saude.pdf
  • 14
    Almeida GM, Recine E, Fagundes A. Objectives and competencies in food and nutrition education in the brazilian undergraduate nutrition program. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019;52(4):385-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.001
    » https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.001
  • 15
    Almeida GM, Oliveira KHD, Monteiro JS, Medeiros MAT, Recine EGIG. Educational training of nutritionists in Public Health Nutrition: a systematic review. Rev Nutr. 2018;31(1):97-117. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652018000100009
    » https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652018000100009
  • 16
    Neves J, Sousa AA, de Vasconcelos FAG. Professional qualification in public health nutrition at universidade Federal de Santa Catarina: Reflections on the teaching process to strengthen the Brazilian unified health system. Rev Nutr. 2014;27(6):761-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1415-52732014000600010
    » https://doi.org/10.1590/1415-52732014000600010
  • 17
    Shrimpton R, Du Plessis LM, Delisle H, Blaney S, Atwood SJ, Sanders D, et al Public health nutrition capacity: assuring the quality of workforce preparation for scaling up nutrition programmes. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19:2090-100. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001500378X
    » https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001500378X

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    28 Nov 2022
  • Date of issue
    2022

History

  • Received
    02 June 2021
  • Reviewed
    29 June 2022
  • Accepted
    31 Aug 2022
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