Abstract
AimsTo analyse nutrition-related knowledge and its determinants in middle-aged and older patients with T2D. MethodsIn a cross sectional study, a total of 116 participants with T2D, aged 50–80 years, were recruited in primary health care. Data was collected by a self-reported questionnaire — the modified version of General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (0–56 points). Sociodemographic data was also collected: gender, age, personal monthly income, living situation, education level, and marital status. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess differences in nutrition-related knowledge score among the different levels of sociodemographic characteristics. ResultsQuestions on general dietary recommendations, dietary behaviors to reduce cardiovascular disease and cancer are the items with higher proportion of correct answers. On the other hand, health problems related with lower intake of fruit, vegetables and fiber and knowledge about antioxidants vitamins presented the lower proportion of correct answers.Higher scores were found among those with lower age, higher personal monthly income, and higher education. ConclusionsMiddle-aged and older patients with T2D showed alarming deficits on nutrition-related knowledge. Age, personal monthly income, and education level were observed as major determinants of nutrition-related knowledge.Trial Registration: NCT02631902.
Highlights
Diabetes affects more than 425 million people worldwide, of which one-third are people older than 65 years
This is the first study in Portugal that focused on these two issues
A total of 116 middle-aged and older patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) were recruited from primary health care centers by their family doctors in a consecutive basis according to the following inclusion criteria: aged between 50–80 years old; T2D diagnosed for at least six months; non-smokers; independent living in the community; without major changes in gait or balance; diabetes comorbidities under control; willingness to participate in this study
Summary
Diabetes affects more than 425 million people worldwide, of which one-third are people older than 65 years. The goals of T2D dietary management are to attain ideal blood glucose and blood lipids levels, to prevent, delay, and control diabetes-related complications, and to improve health through a healthy diet [6]. Few studies have analyzed the determinants of nutrition-related knowledge in T2D patients [9,11,14,15] and most of them only focused on educational level. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Portugal that focused on these two issues. The aim of the present study was to analyze nutritionrelated knowledge and its determinants in Portuguese middle-aged and older patients with T2D
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