The relationship between nutrition literacy and diet self-efficacy in individuals with cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors receiving dietary therapy

This study aims to determine the nutritional literacy and diet self-efficacy levels of individuals who have a cardiovascular disease or risk factors and receive dietary therapy, and to determine the effect of nutritional literacy on diet self-efficacy. The study included 150 participants between November 2019 and February 2020. Participants' age, gender, place of residence, education level, current cardiovascular disease and risk factors, cardiovascular operations, other accompanying chronic diseases and previous dietary treatment were questioned; height, body weight and waist circumference were measured. "Nutrition Literacy Assessment Tool in Adults" to determine nutritional literacy levels; in order to determine dietary self-efficacy levels, "Self-Efficacy Scale in Regulate Nutritional Habits in Heart Patients" were used. According to the data obtained from the study, a significant difference was found between the education levels of the participants, their place of residence, and nutritional literacy levels (p<0,05). The nutritional literacy levels of all participants were determined to be "borderline". All individuals participating in the study were found to have low diet self-efficacy levels. A very significant positive correlation was found between diet self-efficacy levels and nutritional literacy levels and components of nutritional literacy among the individuals participating in the study (p<0,01). Dietary therapy and nutrition education plays an important role in individuals with cardiovascular disease and risk factors. In the light of the results of the study, it is thought that the nutrition education to be given to these individuals can be shaped by taking into consideration the nutritional literacy and diet self-efficacy of the individuals. Key words: nutritional literacy, diet self-efficacy, cardiovascular disease and risk factors, nutrition education