Reasons And Solutions For Poor Adherence To Diet And Physical Activity Among Patients With Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases: A Mixed Methods Study In Karaikal

Abstract

Background

Diet and physical activity play a pivotal role in preventing as well as containing the severity and complications of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). But, previous literature found that the adherence to diet and physical activity among NCD patients were unsatisfactory. Hence, this study was planned to determine the reasons for poor adherence to diet and physical activity among patients with chronic NCDs and to prioritize the key action points to improve the adherence to diet and physical activity.

Methodology

A mixed-methods study was conducted in NCD Clinics in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Karaikal for six months. In quantitative phase, 250 NCD patients were surveyed using a pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire and in qualitative phase, 20 PHC staffs and stakeholders were selected purposively for Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII). Quantitative data was analysed in SPSS 26 software for Multivariate Logistic Regression and Thematic Content Analysis was employed for qualitative data using Atlas.ti 9 software.

Results

Lack of awareness (74%), cost and availability of healthy food (66%), taste of food (62%), work stress (53%) and lack of self-motivation (40%) were the prime reasons for poor adherence to diet and physical activity. As recommended by the key persons, proper doctor-patient communication, feedback and problem solving and production of low-cost healthy foods would improve the adherence to diet and physical activity.

Conclusion

The findings of this study would help in planning context-specific behaviour change communication strategies and in designing culturally-sensitive and socially-acceptable intervention programmes for NCD patients.