Self-efficacy, decisional balance and stages of change on dietary practices among metabolic syndrome persons, Uthai Thani Province.

To determine factors related to stages of change regarding dietary intake of persons with metabolic syndrome in Uthai Thani. Five hundred metabolic syndrome persons were randomly selected using a three-stage sampling method and voluntarily responded to a validated, self-administered questionnaire. Majority of the respondents (36.4%) had dietary practices in the pre-contemplation stage while only 17.4 percent of them were in the action and maintenance stage. Perceived self-efficacy, pros, and cons of decisional balance for dietary intake had statistically positive association with the stages of change (Somers' d value = 0.21, 0.29, and 0.09 with p < 0.01, < 0.01, and 0.015 respectively). Perceived self-efficacy, pros, and cons of decisional balance are related to stages of change regarding dietary intake of persons with metabolic syndrome. Therefore, perceived self-efficacy, pros for positive and cons for negative dietary intake should be emphasized to elevate food consumption practices of the metabolic syndrome persons from pre-contemplation to action and maintenance stage.