Background: Carbohydrate counting is a meal planning approach used in diabetic patients who focus on carbohydrates as the primary nutrient, affecting postprandial glycemic response. As diabetes mellitus affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, thus patients should monitor carbohydrate intake and eat a heart-healthy diet using nutrition labels. The study aims to test the reliability and validity of Health habits counseling questionnaire (HHCQ) in order to assess the carbohydrate counting skills, knowledge of heart-healthy food, and nutrition label reading skills in adults with diabetes, attending the diabetic center, King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the diabetic center, KFMC, from 1st May to 31st December 2016. A total of 178 participants were included in the study using the convenience sampling technique. After translating the questionnaire into Arabic, data were collected by means of a personal interview with the participants. Data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (version 16).
Results: Ninety-four (52.8%) participants had type 1 diabetes and 84 (47.2%) had type 2; the average duration of diabetes was 12.6 ± 3.7 years. There was no significant relationship between patients' level of education and the use of carbohydrate counting on a regular basis and diabetes education (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The use of carbohydrate counting on a regular basis was found in only 18% of diabetic patients attending the diabetic center, KFMC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This study recommends that health policymakers must conduct more effective health education sessions to increase the knowledge of diabetic patients and their caregivers about HHCQ to assess the carbohydrate counting skills, knowledge of heart-healthy food, and nutrition label reading skills.
Key words: Reliability and validity, carbohydrate counting skills, knowledge of heart-healthy foods, nutrition label reading, diabetics.
|
