Mediterranean diet adherence in cardiac patients: A cross-sectional study

Objective: We analyzed the constructs of social cognitive theory that explain adherence to the Mediterranean diet in patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 337 cardiac patients using a validated questionnaire was conducted and analyzed at an outpatient cardiology clinic, employing social cognitive theory (SCT) as the theoretical framework. Results: Dietary adherence was associated with statistically significant improvements in the SCT constructs. Self-regulation to consume healthy diet groups, negative perceived outcomes, and self-efficacy had the most influence on patient ability to maintain the Mediterranean diet. Self-regulation to avoid unhealthy food options like processed, sugary foods and positive perceived outcomes had smaller associations with patient ability to maintain the Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: SCT constructs should be utilized by physicians when educating patients on heart healthy dieting as they are highly associated with improved dietary behaviors. Self-efficacy, self-regulation in choosing healthy diet options, and negatively perceived expected outcomes predicted diet quality in cardiac patients. Improvements in these constructs might yield positive results in cardiac patients attempting diet modifications.