title: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Related to Sodium Intake and Reduction Among Adult Consumers in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence and determinants of sodium-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among U.S. adults Design. A cross-sectional survey was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was set in the United States in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 6122 U.S. adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sodium-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-squared tests were used to determine differences in sodium-related knowledge, attitude, and behaviors by respondent characteristics; multiple logistic regression was used to examine associations between selected respondent characteristics and health professional advice, reported action, or knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (adjusted for all other respondent characteristics).
  
  
  RESULTS
  About three-fourths of respondents answered eating too much sodium is "somewhat" or "very" harmful to their health. Twenty-six percent reported receiving health professional advice, and 45% reported taking action to reduce their sodium intake. The prevalence of reported action was highest among adults receiving advice, those with hypertension, blacks, and those aged ≥65 years. Sixty-two percent who reported action agreed that most of their sodium comes from processed or restaurant foods. Of those reporting action, the most common tactics to reduce sodium intake were checking nutrition labels, using other spices than salt, and choosing low-sodium foods; requesting lower-sodium options when eating out was the least common tactic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest almost half of adults overall and the vast majority of those receiving health professional advice are taking some action to watch or reduce sodium intake. Although a substantial proportion report using recommended tactics to lower intake, many are not using the most effective tactics. In order to reach the general population, health communication messages could be simpler and focus on the most effective tactics to reduce sodium intake. Furthermore, health professionals can help reduce sodium intake by discussing the benefits of sodium reduction and tactics to do so, regardless of a hypertension diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Deesha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: 1 Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cogswell
authors.affiliation: 1 Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: 1 Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Creel
authors.affiliation: 1 Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Carma
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ayala
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012982:Sodium, Dietary
keywords: Attitudes; Behaviors; Health focus: nutrition; Hypertension; Knowledge; Nutrition; Outcome measure: behavioral; Prevention Research. Manuscript format research; Research purpose: descriptive; Setting: national; Sodium; Study design: nonexperimental; Target population: adults