Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dietary Sodium in College Students
Alison Webster1, Jinan Banna2, Eunjung Lim3
1Department of Human Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Objective:
Test a dietary sodium survey in a US adult population of college students using a survey previously validated in a non-US adult population.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of college students from a Midwest (n = 168) and Pacific Island (n = 152) university. Main outcome measures were knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dietary sodium (38 items). Sum scores and percentages for constructs were calculated. A score <75% was considered unfavorable; t test or ANOVA were used to examine group differences.
Results:
Midwest students were primarily non-Hispanic White individuals (81%) and 65% female. Pacific Island students were predominantly Asian (51%) and 66% female. Mean ± SD construct scores (percentage) for knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 58.69 ± 10.62, 63.96 ± 16.18, 66.00 ± 12.34 (Midwest) and 57.54 ± 10.93, 64.84 ± 14.96, 64.94 ± 13.18 (Pacific Island), respectively; there were no significant differences between schools or race.
Conclusions And Implications:
College students scored low in knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sodium. Results from this formative study may inform assessment strategies in future dietary sodium interventions.
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