title: Determinants of salt-restriction-spoon using behavior in China: application of the health belief model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The two-gram salt-restriction-spoons, which can be used to reduce the salt intake of people, had been handed out for free by the Chinese government to the citizens several years ago, but only a small fraction of residents use such a spoon currently. Since no studies have been conducted to investigate relevant influencing factors, this study was designed to explore the determinants of salt-restriction-spoon using behavior (SRB) in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in Beijing, China. Altogether 269 rural residents and 244 urban residents aged over 18 were selected by convenience sampling method in 2012. Variables measured in a questionnaire designed according to the Health Belief Model (HBM) included socio-demographics, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived objective barriers, perceived subjective barriers, self-efficacy, knowledge of hypertension, cues to action, and SRB. Answers to the questionnaire were obtained from all the participants, and 24-hour urine samples were collected to determine the 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (24HUNa). Path analyses were used to explore the determinants of SRB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 22.7% and 45.3% of residents used a salt-restriction-spoon everyday in the rural and urban areas, respectively. The average 24HUNa was 211.19±98.39 mmol for rural residents and 109.22±58.18 mmol for urban residents. Path analyses shown that perceived objective barriers, perceived benefits, perceived severity, knowledge and age were related to SRB and 24HUNa for both rural and urban participants, among which perceived objective barrier (β =  - 0.442 and β =  - 0.543, respectively) was the most important determinant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement of the current salt-restriction-spoon and education on the right usage of the salt-restriction-spoon, the severity of hypertension, and the benefit of salt reduction are necessary, especially among those who are relatively young but at risk of hypertension, those who have lower education levels, and those who live in the rural areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yixing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: VIP Medical Service Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhuoting
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: China Center for Health Development Studies, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuaishuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, Shun Yi Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Community Medical Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dahong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004493:Education; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012938:Social Perception; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000652:urine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary