Preventive Care In Nursing and Midwifery Journal

en Vegan Diets Between Trend and Health: A Qualitative Study for National Nutrition Policy Nursing Orginal research <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: The number of vegan consumers has increased markedly over the past decade. Some individuals adopt this diet without adequate understanding of its core principles, often driven by secondary motives and misconceptions. These misunderstandings may result in adverse health outcomes, including nutritional deficiencies, when the diet is poorly planned. Understanding the sociocultural and educational context of the target population, particularly in regions such as Lar, Gerash, and Evaz in southern Iran, is therefore essential. Objectives: This study aimed to identify common misconceptions about the vegan diet among individuals referring to community health centers and to evaluate the need for targeted nutrition education as a preventive approach to reduce diet-related health risks. Methods: This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling to recruit vegan individuals from community health centers in Lar, Gerash, and Evaz. Data were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis based on the Graneheim and Lundman approach. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, managed with MAXQDA version 10, and analyzed concurrently with data collection until saturation was achieved. Results: Data from 32 participants, mean age: 40.21 (10.20) years, yielded four main themes: misconceptions about the vegan diet, consequences of unresolved misconceptions (including nutritional deficiencies), proposed solutions, and implementation strategies. Several misconceptions conflicted with fundamental dietary principles and, in some cases, led to unintended negative health effects. Conclusion: While the vegan diet has potential health benefits, inadequate understanding of its objectives may increase health risks. Targeted nutrition education, professional guidance, and supportive public health policies are recommended to promote informed adherence and prevent diet-related harm.  </div> Vegans, Diet, Nutrition Policy, Public Health, Qualitative Research 27 35 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1065-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Omid Barghi omid1382barghi@yahoo.com 100319475328460015153 100319475328460015153 No Student Research Committee, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran Mohammad-Rafi Bazrafshan seeder2007@gmail.com 100319475328460015154 100319475328460015154 Yes Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran Amir Mansouri mansouriam60@gmail.com 100319475328460015155 100319475328460015155 No Department of Paramedical School, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran Haniyeh Rajabi haniyeh.rajabi1831@gmail.com 100319475328460015156 100319475328460015156 No Student Research Committee, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran Helia Yarbakhsh heliayarbakhsh@gmail.com 100319475328460015157 100319475328460015157 No Student Research Committee, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran AmirHossein Kamali amirhosseinkamali.2002@gmail.com 100319475328460015158 100319475328460015158 No Student Research Committee, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran Habib Abbasi habib.abbasi@hotmail.com 100319475328460015159 100319475328460015159 No Department of Chemical Engineering, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful, Iran, Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Nursing, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran Maryam Ranjbar Zahedani ranjbarmaryam29@yahoo.com 100319475328460015160 100319475328460015160 No Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran