ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate salt-restriction behavior and explore related determinants among Beijing residents, so as to provide scientific basis for salt-restriction intervention. METHODS: The health belief model (HBM) was applied in designing the questionnaire, in which respondents' demographic characteristics, salt-restriction behavior, knowledge on hypertension, perceived susceptibility to hypertension, perceived severity of hypertension, perceived benefits of salt-restriction, perceived subjective barriers of salt-restriction, perceived objective barriers of salt-restriction, self-efficacy and cues to action were measured. Altogether 799 residentsresponsible for cooking in Xicheng district (396 urban residents) and Shunyi district (403 rural residents) in Beijing were investigated by the questionnaire, salt intake follow up, and 24-hour urinary sodium (24HUNa) determination. RESULTS: In the study, 54.0% (214/396) of urban respondents and 26.3% (106/403) of rural respondents used a salt-restriction-spoon with high frequencies (everyday and often), while 27.5% (109/396) and 12.4% (50/403) used it correctly. The daily salt intake was (5.85±4.17) g and (7.74±4.67) g, and the 24HUNa was (113.70± 72.57) mmoL and (212.18±105.01) mmoL for urban and rural respondents, respectively. Perceived objective barriers of salt-restriction was animportant determinant of salt-restriction behavior for both the rural (OR=0.92; 95%CI: 0.88-0.96; P<0.01) and urban respondents (OR=0.87;95%CI: 0.83-0.91;P<0.01), which was perceived obviously more by rural respondents than by urban ones. Another important determinant of rural respondents' salt-restriction behavior was the owning status of salt-restriction-spoon (OR=2.18;95%CI: 1.04-4.57;P=0.04). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to improve current salt-restriction-spoon, enhance its owning rate,and popularize its correct way of using, especially among rural residents.