title: Barriers and coping strategies of women with gestational diabetes to follow dietary advice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand barriers and coping strategies of women with gestational diabetes (GDM) to follow dietary advice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty women with GDM from the Winnipeg area participated. Each participant completed a Food Choice Map (FCM) semi-structured interview and a demographic questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Underlying beliefs of women with GDM and factors that hinder following dietary advice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative data analyzed using constant comparative method to identify emergent themes of factors and beliefs that affected following dietary advice. Themes were categorized within the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GDM women faced challenges and barriers when (1) personal food preference conflicted with dietary advice; (2) eating in different social environments where food choice and portions were out of control and food choice decisions were affected by social norms; (3) lack of knowledge and skills in dietary management and lack of a tailored dietary plan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quick adaptation to dietary management in a short time period created challenges for women with GDM. Stress and anxiety were reported when women talked about following dietary advice. Tailored educational and mental health consultation with consideration of the barriers may promote dietary compliance and overall better health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Electronic address: Amy.Hui@med.umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: Amy Leung
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Gustaaf
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sevenhuysen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Dexter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salamon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: Compliance; Dietary advice; Food choice; Gestational diabetes; Pregnancy