02533nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001100001800042700001400060700001000074700001200084700001500096700001300111700001300124700001300137700001400150700001600164700001500180700001900195245009200214250001500306300000800321490000700329520188000336020005102216       2016                            d1 aWoodward Mark1 aNowson C.1 aWu J.1 aLand M.1 aJeffery P.1 aSmith W.1 aFlood V.1 aCrino M.1 aSelwyn A.1 aChalmers J.1 aNeal Bruce1 aWebster Jacqui00aEffects of a community-based salt reduction program in a regional Australian population  a2016/05/14  a3880 v163 a<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 .
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  a1471-2458 (Electronic)<br/>1471-2458 (Linking)