- Title
- Perceptions and knowledge of using a low-salt diet for preventing hypertension among Chinese populations in Australia: A mixed-methods study
- Creator
- Chan, Alex
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2024
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- High salt consumption is a significant risk factor for hypertension. However, many people in the world consume higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended amount of five grams a day (5g/day). Chinese is one of the five main ancestries in Australia. Several studies have reported salt consumption among the general populations in Australia and China of two to three times the recommended amount. However, no known empirical research has focused on exploring the habitual salt-related health behaviours of Chinese Australians. To explore the salt consumption habits of Chinese Australians and the factors that influence their perceptions about maintaining a low-salt diet to prevent hypertension. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was selected based on paradigmatic underpinnings. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to guide the research process. The study consisted of an adaptation of the Determinants of Salt-Restriction Behaviour Questionnaire (DSRBQ) study, a cross-sectional study (n = 188) and eight semi-structured interviews. The DSRBQ was successfully adapted to the Chinese-Australian context. Habitual salt-related practices, including personal taste preferences in food, posed the most significant barrier to making changes to salt-related behaviours. This was followed by perceived health benefits and threats, hidden salt in food products, food literacy skills, and social and peer influence. Results also showed that inadequate knowledge of the health complications arising from excessive salt consumption led to low adherence to the interventions and, thereby, an under-appreciation of the seriousness of hypertension. Practical cooking methods, low-salt food choices and positive influences from family and peers were perceived to be effective strategies by Chinese Australians. The thesis concludes that the internal and external prompts that could trigger courses of action were inadequate. An implication of these findings is that there might be missing (or weak) links between some components in the HBM which might reduce its capability for predicting the individual salt-related behaviours associated with health outcomes. The insights gained from this study may be of assistance in improving the predictability of HBM and in supporting further development of the adapted DSRBQ as a rapid assessment tool for this population group.
- Subject
- salt; Chinese; perceptions; knowledge; diet; hypertension; Australia; health belief model
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1510564
- Identifier
- uon:56428
- Rights
- Copyright 2024 Alex Chan
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 13 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 286 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |