Title: Effect of theory-based education on promoting a healthy lifestyle in pre-diabetic
women:RCT
Version: 4 Date: 09 Nov 2021
Reviewer's report:
Authors have attempted to answer the questions. But there are some more to be corrected. I hope
the editorial office will help with the language revision.
Title: Suggest to delete the terms “Investigating the”  and change as “Effect of theory-based
education on promoting a healthy lifestyle in pre-diabetic women: RCT”
Measurements : In the measurements section authors have mentioned “To collect information,
a questionnaire including demographic variables, knowledge, sports behavior and diet, TPB
constructs on physical activity and diet were used before and at least 3 months after the
intervention.” However I cannot find data to support this. For examples: diet (what type of  a
dietary survey? and results?), Sports behavior (results?), Knowledge (on what and results?),
Physical activity?  At least mention whether there is or no difference between intervension and
controls. Same for attitude scores?
Was this questionnaire a self-developed one? How did you pretest or validate it? Please included
the details of pretest.
What does it mean by “valid version of the Godin Leisure Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ)”?
I wanted you to mention whether it was validated by you or some one else to Persian language?
Please give details.
Authors have mentioned “The behaviors were measured by a questionnaire and fasting blood
sugar.”  Can you measure behavior with fasting blood sugar? What are the questionnaires you
used to assess the behaviors ? Previously used one or was it validated to Persian (or the native
language)?
Attitude scores are there in table 4. How did you measure attitudes? Details of questionnaire and
its validation to native language must be provided.
Please don’t confuse terms! Pretest and baseline investigations “before the intervention” are
different.
Results: Authors have not understood the term “identical”. How can you find two identical
groups? Not possible to find two identical persons even. Better use “there was not statically
significant difference between two groups”.
In the tables please include number of participants for each sub group. (n=?)
Table 4 data, please reanalyze and check. For example “Perceived behavioral control” in
intervention group has increased from 3.31 to 3.34 (p=0.046) and control group 2.21 to 2.26
(p= 0.77). Is this p correct?
Discussion:
Some sentences are still confusing. Please get a professional language expert, with experience in
scientific/ Medical writing. (I know that like me the authors are also not native English speakers.
It is not a fault of us. But when we publish, it should be clear to the reader, and error free. What
I advise you is to do is what I do when I submit a manuscript).
Paragraph 2: Loose of samples? Does it mean loss or blood samples or I guess “drop outs”?
Paragraph 3, sentence 1, please replace phrase “results of the pretest” with “results of the baseline
assessment”.
Under strengths and limitations: Please discuss whether these finding results can be used by
others in the world or regional countries or other parts of the country. If yes… what qualities of
this study will support it. If not what limits it ect…