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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors towards Proper Nutrition and Lifestyles in Italian Diabetic Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Antonella Arghittu

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Giovanna Deiana

    (University Hospital of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Elena Castiglia

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Adolfo Pacifico

    (Ambulatorio Dietoterapia e Nutrizione Clinica, Struttura di Diabetologia e Malattie Metaboliche, ASL1, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Patrizia Brizzi

    (Ambulatorio Dietoterapia e Nutrizione Clinica, Struttura di Diabetologia e Malattie Metaboliche, ASL1, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Andrea Cossu

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    University Hospital of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Paolo Castiglia

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    University Hospital of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Marco Dettori

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    University Hospital of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

Abstract

Prevention of diabetes mellitus is mainly based on a healthy lifestyle. The lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major changes in daily life and social behavior, which may have an influence on diabetes self-management and glycemic control. The present work aims to assess the relationship between diabetic patients’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards proper nutrition and lifestyles in order to plan strategies for educational intervention from a health literacy perspective. Attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge of diabetic patients attending the Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Department of the Local Health Authority of Sassari (ASL1-SS) were assessed with a cognitive survey conducted from April to July 2022. Three hundred twenty-one questionnaires were administered during the survey period. Fifty-two percent of diabetic patients were female and 48% male, with a mean age of 61.1 ± 18.5 years and 62.0 ± 15.1 years, respectively. The overall level of knowledge about the role of food and proper nutrition with respect to the risk of diabetes and its complications appeared to be generally unsatisfactory and inadequate. Nonetheless, females showed a significantly higher level of knowledge than males ( p < 0.0001). Moreover, knowledge was seen to decrease according to the age of the patients ( p = 0.035). As for the possible impact played by the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyles, it should be noted that about 70% of the respondents stated that they had maintained a reasonable dietary standard or even improved it throughout. Thus, the study underlines the need to improve the knowledge of diabetic subjects about nutrition and, in particular, their self-management, positively influencing behaviors and attitudes.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonella Arghittu & Giovanna Deiana & Elena Castiglia & Adolfo Pacifico & Patrizia Brizzi & Andrea Cossu & Paolo Castiglia & Marco Dettori, 2022. "Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors towards Proper Nutrition and Lifestyles in Italian Diabetic Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11212-:d:908566
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anna Brytek-Matera & Sahar Obeid & Marwan Akel & Souheil Hallit, 2021. "How Does Food Addiction Relate to Obesity? Patterns of Psychological Distress, Eating Behaviors and Physical Activity in a Sample of Lebanese Adults: The MATEO Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Antonella Arghittu & Marco Dettori & Emma Dempsey & Giovanna Deiana & Claudio Angelini & Angela Bechini & Caterina Bertoni & Sara Boccalini & Paolo Bonanni & Sandro Cinquetti & Fabrizio Chiesi & Maria, 2021. "Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Antonella Arghittu & Marco Dettori & Antonio Azara & Davide Gentili & Antonello Serra & Bruno Contu & Paolo Castiglia, 2020. "Flu Vaccination Attitudes, Behaviours, and Knowledge among Health Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-16, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yangcheng Gu & Haruka Kato & Daisuke Matsushita, 2023. "Relationship between Health Status and Daily Activities Based on Housing Type among Suburban Residents during COVID-19 Self-Isolation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, February.

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