Appelton Institute & School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton & Brisbane, Australia.
Centre for Kidney Disease Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Br J Nutr. 2024 Sep 28;132(6):815-822. doi: 10.1017/S0007114524002174. Epub 2024 Oct 8.
High dietary salt intake is a known risk factor for hypertension. However, Australians continue to consume excessive amounts of salt. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers, enablers and strategies to reduce salt in a sample of Australian adults with hypertension. This was a qualitative study. Participants were asked a set of open-ended questions during focus groups conducted between October 2020 and April 2021. Sessions were recorded and transcribed. Using an inductive approach, the transcript data from the focus groups were thematically analysed. This involved checking accuracy, becoming familiar with the data, coding responses based on questions, identifying themes through common patterns and validating themes by grouping similar questions that represented the data and study aim effectively. Thirty-one adults (55 % females) with high blood pressure participated in the focus group discussions. Participants demonstrated good knowledge of high blood pressure risk factors but lacked an understanding of recommended salt intake levels and sources of hidden salt. Challenges in reducing salt intake included the limited availability of low-salt commercial foods. Participants suggested improved food labelling and the use of technology-based interventions to promote healthier choices. Findings highlight the need for behavioural interventions, policy reforms and collaborations between the government, food industries and health organisations to address high salt intake in the population.
高盐饮食是高血压的已知危险因素。然而，澳大利亚人仍摄入过多的盐。本研究旨在确定高血压澳大利亚成年人样本减少盐摄入量的障碍、促进因素和策略。这是一项定性研究。在 2020 年 10 月至 2021 年 4 月期间进行的焦点小组讨论中，向参与者提出了一组开放式问题。会议进行了记录和转录。使用归纳方法，对焦点小组的转录数据进行了主题分析。这包括检查准确性、熟悉数据、根据问题对回复进行编码、通过常见模式识别主题以及通过有效代表数据和研究目的的分组类似问题验证主题。31 名高血压成年人（55%为女性）参加了焦点小组讨论。参与者对高血压危险因素有很好的了解，但对推荐的盐摄入量水平和隐藏盐的来源缺乏了解。减少盐摄入量的挑战包括低盐商业食品的供应有限。参与者建议改进食品标签，并使用基于技术的干预措施来促进更健康的选择。研究结果强调需要采取行为干预、政策改革以及政府、食品行业和卫生组织之间的合作，以解决人群中盐摄入量过高的问题。
