@article{22178,
  author = {Woodward Mark and Nowson C. and Wu J. and Land M. and Jeffery P. and Smith W. and Flood V. and Crino M. and Selwyn A. and Chalmers J. and Neal Bruce and Webster Jacqui},
  title = {Effects of a community-based salt reduction program in a regional Australian population},
  abstract = {<p>
BACKGROUND: Salt reduction is a public health priority but there are few studies testing the efficacy of plausible salt reduction programs. METHODS: A multi-faceted, community-based salt reduction program using the Communication for Behavioral Impact framework was implemented in Lithgow, Australia. Single 24-h urine samples were obtained from 419 individuals at baseline (2011) and from 572 at follow-up (2014). Information about knowledge and behaviors relating to salt was also collected. RESULTS: Survey participants were on average 56 years old and 58 % female. Mean salt intake estimated from 24-h urine samples fell from 8.8 g/day (SD = 3.6 g/day) in 2011 to 8.0 (3.6) g/day in 2014 (-0.80, 95 % confidence interval -1.2 to -0.3;p &lt; 0.001). There were significant increases in the proportion of participants that knew the recommended upper limit of salt intake (18 % vs. 29 %; p &lt; 0.001), knew the importance of salt reduction (64 % vs. 78 %; p &lt; 0.001) and reported changing their behaviors to reduce their salt intake by using spices (5 % vs. 28 %; p &lt; 0.001) and avoiding eating out (21 % vs. 34 %; p &lt; 0.001). However, the proportions that checked food labels (30 % vs. 25 %; p = 0.02) fell, as did the numbers avoiding processed foods (44 % vs. 35 %; p = 0.006). Twenty-six percent reported using salt substitute at the end of the intervention period and 90 % had heard about the program. Findings were robust to multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of this multi-faceted community-based program was associated with a ~10 % reduction in salt consumption in an Australian regional town. These findings highlight the potential of well-designed health promotion programs to compliment other population-based strategies to bring about much-needed reductions in salt consumption. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02105727 .
</p>
},
  year = {2016},
  journal = {BMC Public Health},
  volume = {16},
  edition = {2016/05/14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {388},
  isbn = {1471-2458 (Electronic)<br/>1471-2458 (Linking)},
  note = {Land, Mary-Anne<br/>Wu, Jason H Y<br/>Selwyn, Adriana<br/>Crino, Michelle<br/>Woodward, Mark<br/>Chalmers, John<br/>Webster, Jacqui<br/>Nowson, Caryl<br/>Jeffery, Paul<br/>Smith, Wayne<br/>Flood, Victoria<br/>Neal, Bruce<br/>England<br/>BMC Public Health. 2016 May 11;16(1):388. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3064-3.},
  language = {eng},
}