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2017 MS Thesis Alison Webster.pdf (1.54 MB)

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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dietary Sodium Intake, and Associations with Sodium Consumption and Blood Pressure in College Students

Webster, Alison Lynn
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7630-8237
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500548039026394

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Human Ecology: Human Nutrition.
Background: A majority of college students consume excess sodium. Excessive sodium intake is associated with high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. There is a need for behavioral interventions to reduce sodium intake in college students. The primary aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dietary sodium in convenience samples of college students. A secondary aim was to characterize sodium intake and resting blood pressure in a small convenience sample of students, and subsequently explore associations with sodium knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Methods: Convenience samples of students from a Midwestern university (n=169) and a Pacific Island university (n=152) completed a previously-validated sodium questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed knowledge (27 items with 5 response options; 1 point maximum assigned for correct responses) with higher score representing higher knowledge, attitudes (4 items on 5-point Likert scale) with higher score representing more positive attitudes, and practices (7 items on 5-point Likert scale) with higher scores representing more positive practices. An additional sample of students from the Midwestern university (n=35) completed the sodium questionnaire, one-day food records, and resting blood pressure measurements. Results: College students had low knowledge, poor attitudes, and poor practices regarding dietary sodium. In the smaller sample (n=35), mean sodium intake was 3,946 mg per day, and mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 116 and 70 mmHg, respectively. There were no significant correlations of sodium knowledge, attitudes, or practices with estimated sodium consumption or blood pressure. Additionally, there were no significant correlations between estimated sodium intake and blood pressure. Conclusions: Students demonstrated low knowledge, poor attitudes, and poor practices regarding dietary sodium, a high dietary sodium intake (more than 1,500 mg per day above the daily recommendation of 2,300 mg per day), and normal blood pressure measurements. In addition, there were no associations of behavioral determinants of sodium intake with dietary sodium intake or blood pressure. Results from this study demonstrate the need for sodium reduction interventions in college students. Future studies should assess additional personal factors and environmental determinants of sodium intake. Future research would also benefit from assessing the barriers to reducing sodium consumption in college student populations.
Carolyn Gunther, PhD (Advisor)
Julie Kennel, PhD, RD (Committee Member)
Tonya Orchard, PhD, RD (Committee Member)
137 p.
Nutrition
Sodium; sodium knowledge; sodium attitudes; sodium practices; college students

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Webster, A. L. (2017). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dietary Sodium Intake, and Associations with Sodium Consumption and Blood Pressure in College Students [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500548039026394

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Webster, Alison. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dietary Sodium Intake, and Associations with Sodium Consumption and Blood Pressure in College Students. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500548039026394.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Webster, Alison. "Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dietary Sodium Intake, and Associations with Sodium Consumption and Blood Pressure in College Students." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500548039026394

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1500548039026394
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.