P-45 The Willingness of Individuals, with Noncommunicable Diseases, towards Adopting a Plant Based Diet
Author(s):
K Henry, D Tyndale
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To analyze how associated socio-demographics
and health factors impact willingness and perceptions of
individuals with noncommunicable diseases towards adopting a plant-based diet.
Methods: A sequential transformative design was used to fulfill the aim of this study. A convenient sample of 344 outpatient clinics attendees at Kingston Public Hospital was used for the study. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews; constructs from the Trans-theoretical (TTM) and Health Belief Models were utilized as theoretical frameworks.
Results: Majority (90.9%) of the participants indicated they were not eating a plant-based diet. Willingness to start eating a plant diet in the next six months was expressed by 53.8% of participants. Frequencies for the weekly consumption of fruit juice (p<0.05), fruit (p<0.05) and orange vegetables (p<0.001) significantly differed across the stages of the Trans-theoretical Model. Once participants started eating a plant-based diet, there was a mean increase, of 2 more servings, in the consumption of food categories by participants in the preparation, action and maintenance stages of the TTM.
Conclusion: Majority of the participants were not eating a plant-based diet but some were willing to change their diet in the next six months. As willingness is essential to behavior change, this study provides information that may be useful in the management of chronic diseases.