Background and objectives: Micronutrient deficiencies are common among bariatric patients; this study aimed to determine whether a cognitive dissonance-based virtual program improved adherence to multivitamin use in bariatric patients from northern Mexico.
Methods and study design: A randomized controlled trial of the supplementation strategy was conducted over three months. The participants were randomized to an intervention or waitlisted control group and received two psycho-educative and four cognitive dissonance virtual sessions. Multiple linear regression was used to determine standardized estimates of associations between the intervention and dependent variables. Two path analyses were evaluated considering baseline and post-test measurements.
Results: Intervention was associated with higher concentrations of Hb (β=0.758, p<0.001), vitamin D (β=0.577, p<0.001), iron (β=0.523, p<0.001), folate (β=0.494, p<0.01), calcium (β=0.452, p<0.01), higher adherence (β=0.467, p<0.001), and level of knowledge (β=0.298, p<0.05.
Conclusions: The dissonance-based intervention potentiated the level of supplementation adherence. A higher level of adherence was reflected in micronutrient concentrations, thus providing confirmation of intervention. Thus, support is found for a multidisciplinary clinical practice that enhances nutrition status after bariatric surgery for obesity.