A Mobile Phone App Intervention to Promote Healthy Salt Intake Among Adults: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Background: There are sound evidences associating high salt intake and greater risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases. A high salt intake has been observed in several populations worldwide, therefore the promotion of a healthier salt consumption has been encouraged as a low-cost strategy to reduce this risk factor. However, these strategies need to be sound, built on theoretical and methodological bases and considering context of the target population. OBJECTIVE Objective: To describe a protocol of a mobile phone App intervention to promote healthy salt intake among adults. METHODS Methods: This is an experimental and longitudinal study, conducted into three modules. Module 1 refers to the planning of the intervention based on the Behaviour Change Wheel framework. Module 2 is the development of the mobile phone App intervention based on the data of Module 1. In Module 3, the intervention will be evaluated by means of a randomized controlled study, with three steps of data collection in two-month follow-up, in a sample of 86 adults (43 participants for each group: control group and intervention group) recruited from Primary Health Care centers of a Brazilian town. Salt consumption will be assessed by the discretionary salt intake, the App usability by means of the System Usability Scale and psychosocial variables (Habit, Intention and Self-efficacy) will also be measured. RESULTS Results: Recruitment began in October 2021 and the follow-up will end in August 2022. The results of this study are expected to be published in 2023. CONCLUSIONS Conclusions: Results from this study will help people to control salt intake when cooking at home, will stimulate the self-care, will work as an alternative or supportive method in the relation between healthcare professionals and patient and, besides, will contribute to implement the App intervention to promote healthy salt intake in large scale. CLINICALTRIAL https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4s8qyyq. Registered on January 28th, 2022.