title: Preferences and self-efficacy for diet modification among primary care patients.
abstract: Limited data exist about patient preferences and self-efficacy for different diets. We explored the preferences and self-efficacy of primary care patients for reducing fat, reducing carbohydrates, or reducing calories. We conducted a self-administered survey study of 71 primary care patients (response rate of 52%). Of patients, 59%, 53%, and 60% had high self-efficacy for reducing fat, reducing carbohydrates, and reducing calories from their diet, respectively. Preferences were comparable, with 76% highly willing to reduce fat, 76% highly willing to reduce carbohydrates, and 72% of patients highly willing to reduce calories/portions. Female sex and higher BMI were associated with high self-efficacy for all three dietary changes. A significantly higher proportion of nonwhites than whites had high self-efficacy for reducing fat and reducing carbohydrates (P < 0.05). Obese patients in our study have similarly high willingness and self-efficacy and comparable preferences for adopting changes consistent with three popular diets.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bartfield
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ojehomon
authors.forename: Karen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Huskey
authors.forename: Roger B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Christina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wee
mesh_terms: D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D057240:Patient Preference; D011320:Primary Health Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates