Salt Intake and Blood Pressure Control in Adults With Essential Hypertension

Plain-language summary

The goal of this study is to explore the barriers and facilitators to adopting a reduced dietary salt and increased potassium intake among adults with essential hypertension in Singapore, and to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a newly developed educational tool-Decreased Salt High Potassium (DSHP) Diet Tool-in reducing dietary sodium intake and increasing potassium intake. This three-part study will involve adults aged 21 years and above, with a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension for at least six months and/or currently taking antihypertensive medication. Participants will be recruited from two SingHealth Polyclinics (Punggol Polyclinic and Pasir Ris Polyclinic). Healthcare providers (HCPs) working at these clinics who have experience in managing patients with hypertension and in educating patients on reducing dietary sodium intake will also be recruited. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * What are the perceived barriers and facilitators for patients with hypertension to reduce dietary sodium and increase potassium intake? * What are the perceived barriers and facilitators experienced by healthcare providers in educating patients about sodium reduction and potassium intake? * Is the DSHP Diet Tool feasible and effective in reducing dietary sodium intake and increasing potassium intake among patients with hypertension? Participants in the intervention group will be provided DSHP Diet Tool and Decreased Salt High Potassium patient information leaflet (DSHP PIL). Participants in the control group will receive standard care and a patient information leaflet (DSHP PIL). Researchers will compare participants in the intervention group to the control group to determine whether the DSHP tool is effective in reducing dietary sodium and increasing potassium intake in patients with hypertension.

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Trial details