Knowledge, attitude and behaviour of university students regarding salt and iodine: a multicentre cross-sectional study in six countries in Europe and Asia

Abstract

Background Strategies to reduce salt intake are encouraged to be implemented in parallel with those that aim to ensure iodine adequacy at the population level. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to salt and iodine among students in Europe and Asia. Methods A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted with 2459 university students in total (42.7% males, median age 21 years) from four countries in Europe and two countries in Asia. Data were collected with the use of a self-administered questionnaire, and univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to explore any association between variables. Results Only 6.5% of all participants knew the correct salt recommendations. Nearly a quarter of them (24.4%) found salt recommendations confusing and/or contradictory. There were significant differences between European and Asian participants, with those from Europe being better informed about salt recommendations, but significantly less knowledgeable about iodine. The reported frequency of use of salt and salt-containing sauces either at the table or for cooking, as well as knowledge about ways to reduce salt intake among those who indicated to make conscious efforts to do so, differed significantly between countries. Significant differences between countries were also observed with respect to the type of salt used, with about one third of all participants (34%) not being aware of the kind of salt they used. Conclusion The results of this survey highlight serious salt- and iodine-related knowledge gaps among university students in Europe and Asia. Raising awareness and conducting information campaigns is needed to promote changes in behaviour that would result in a reduction of salt intake and conscious use of iodised salt at the individual level.

Knowledge and awareness about and use of iodised salt among students in Germany and Greece

“…that German females knew more often that seaweed is an iodine source. In our previous study [20], which included six countries in Asia and Europe, males-by contrasthad a significantly better knowledge about iodised salt being a good iodine source.…”

“…A few international studies revealed a positive impact of good knowledge and awareness about iodine/iodised salt on the use of iodised salt at home and on iodine intake [14][15][16], and a low level of knowledge has been suggested to be a risk factor for suboptimal iodine intake or iodine deficiency [17][18][19]. We recently published results about knowledge, awareness and behaviour regarding salt and iodine among university students in European and Asian countries (Germany, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan), with a major focus on salt use [20]. The objective of the present study is to assess knowledge and awareness about the importance of iodine/iodised salt for health and its use at home, based on data from the German and Greek subpopulations of the original multicentre study.…”

“…Survey methods have been described in detail elsewhere [20]. Shortly, universities (of applied sciences) were selected randomly, informed about the objectives, design and methodology of the study and asked for permission to collect data from students in their premises.…”

“…Data from 359 German and 403 Greek students in Germany (Berlin) and Greece (Larisa and Thessaloniki), collected in the original study [20], were used for the following analyses. Before statistical analysis, students that were under the age of 18 or above the age of 35 (n = 12) were excluded since these students did not represent our study group of young adults.…”