Factors Related to Pearl Milk Tea Consumption Behaviors among Students in Faculty of Medicine from a University in Northern Thailand

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional research study was to examine the factors related to pearl milk tea consumption behaviors among students in a school of medicine from a University in northern Thailand. The samples were 319 students in the school of medicine selected through a simple random sampling technique. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, and Chi-square tests for inferential statistics.

The results showed that the samples were mostly females (72.4%), aged 20 years (27.6%), had body mass index (BMI) in a normal range (59.6%), majored in public health sciences (85.9%), received a monthly allowance of more than 5,000 Baht (63.9%) and had no underlying illness (96.6%). It was found that knowledge of pearl milk tea consumption, pearl milk tea consumption behaviors, and attitudes toward pearl milk tea were at moderate levels (53.6%, 58.6% and 68.0%, respectively). The analyses of the relationships between various factors and the pearl milk tea consumption behaviors among the samples showed that age, monthly allowance, knowledge, attitude, and the selection of the pearl milk tea were significantly associated with the pearl milk tea consumption behaviors at p-value ≤ 0.05. Sample’s gender, BMI, and underlying illness had no significant association with pearl milk tea consumption behaviors.

In conclusion, accurate knowledge and attitude towards pearl milk tea consumption should be promoted especially among college students to promote appropriate consumption behaviors that yield good health among students.