Self-efficacy, decisional balance and stages of change on dietary practices among metabolic syndrome persons, Uthai Thani Province.

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors related to stages of change regarding dietary intake of persons with metabolic syndrome in Uthai Thani.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Five hundred metabolic syndrome persons were randomly selected using a three-stage sampling method and voluntarily responded to a validated, self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS: Majority of the respondents (36.4%) had dietary practices in the pre-contemplation stage while only 17.4 percent of them were in the action and maintenance stage. Perceived self-efficacy, pros, and cons of decisional balance for dietary intake had statistically positive association with the stages of change (Somers' d value = 0.21, 0.29, and 0.09 with p < 0.01, < 0.01, and 0.015 respectively).

CONCLUSION: Perceived self-efficacy, pros, and cons of decisional balance are related to stages of change regarding dietary intake of persons with metabolic syndrome. Therefore, perceived self-efficacy, pros for positive and cons for negative dietary intake should be emphasized to elevate food consumption practices of the metabolic syndrome persons from pre-contemplation to action and maintenance stage.