Association Between Knowledge, Attitudes And Food Habits Of People With Diabetes Mellitus In Treatment In Primary Health Care

Aim: Analyzing the association among the knowledge about Diabetes Mellitus, attitudes and food habits of diabetic patients.Method: A cross-sectional exploratory study was carried out with 147 diabetic patients registered in the HIPERDIA system of a Brazilian county. Questionnaires about sociodemographic variables, as well as the Diabetes Mellitus knowledge (DKN-A) Attitudes (ATT-19) and Food Frequency (FFQ) questionnaires were applied to these patients. Statistical analyses were based the Chi square test for bivariate analyses, and multiple logistic regression models for the combined analysis of associated factors (significance level was set at 95% and p< 0.05 was statistically significant). Results: 63.45% of the interviewees were women, 36.55% were men-mean age was 59.54 years; 61.60% of the total interviewees had three meals per day. Patients’ diet was the most often response about the main difficulty in the glycemic control treatment (34.25%), 7% of the patients presented positive attitudes towards Diabetes Mellitus and 17.5% showed proper knowledge about it. There was no association among knowledge about Diabetes Mellitus, positive attitudes towards the disease and adequate food habits. Conclusions: Most participants presented inadequate food habit, poor knowledge about Diabetes Mellitusand its complications, as well as negative attitude towards the disease, fact that reinforced the need of qualifying services focused on health care and education.