Effectiveness of a program for enhancing perception of dietary salt reduction on salt- reduction dietary behavior among prehypertension risk group in Tha Bun Mi Sub-District, Ko Chan District, Chonburi Province

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study with two groups pretest-posttest design aimed to examine the effectiveness of a program for enhancing perception of dietary salt reduction, which was developed based on the health belief model, on salt-reduction dietary behavior. The sample consisted of 76 individuals at risk of hypertension, who were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group, with 38 participants in each. The experimental group received the 8-week intervention program comprising the following four activities: “Know your numbers, know your risk, avoid hypertension activity”, “Awareness of severity”, “Salt reduction wheel game”, and “sharing to overcome barriers”. The control group received routine care from health service providers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as percentages, means, and standard deviations and inferential statistics including paired t-test and independent t-tests. The results indicated that after the intervention, the experimental group had significantly higher mean scores in dietary salt reduction perception and salt-reduction dietary behaviors compared to both their pre-intervention scores and the control group. Moreover, the systolic blood pressure of the experimental group statistically significant decreased from baseline and was lower than the control group (p-value < 0.01). In conclusion, the program for enhancing perception of dietary salt reduction was effective in promoting the sodium reduction perception, improving salt-reduction behaviors, and lowering systolic blood pressure. This program could serve as a model for developing interventions targeting individuals with chronic health conditions.