Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Caregivers on Dietary Adherence and Medical Food Usage: A Study on the Impact of Education

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers in Rajasthan in relation to the dietary adherence
and medical food usage of children living with Aminoacidopathies. Subjects and Methods: Questionnaires with multiplechoice
questions
were
distributed
to
44
caregivers
of
children
between
6
months
to
12
years
attending
the
Centre
of
Rare

diseases.
The
independent
―t‖
test,
Pearson’s
correlation
and
stepwise
linear
regression
were
used
to
assess
the
associations

between
the
variables
in
question
and
p≤0.05
was
accepted
as
statistically
significant.

Results: Of the 44 participants, 26.4
(60%) were between 20 and 40 years of age with a high school diploma or higher degree and had between 2 and 3
children. The mean knowledge score was 1.16, the mean attitude score was 2.39 and the mean practice score was 2.73.
Major weaknesses were reported in Knowledge level of the caregivers. Dietary adherence was significantly higher among
caregivers with higher education (p<0.01). There is a significant positive relationship between caregiver education levels
and dietary adherence (r=0.62, p<0.01). In addition, knowledge, attitude and level of education were positively and
significantly associated with practices (p<0.005). Conclusions: Our study showed that caregivers with higher education
had good knowledge and practice in relation to the dietary adherence and medical food usage of preschool children.
Caregivers with higher education had better knowledge and practices. These findings underscore the importance of
education in improving caregiver practices and, consequently, patient outcomes.