Tools- of Changes

Systematic Review of Social Marketing as a Behavior Change Agent in Salt Reduction

This systematic review investigates the application of social marketing principles to the design, implementation, and evaluation of salt/ sodium reduction interventions globally and provides recommendations for future public health practice.

Using PRISMA, the authors searched PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsychInfo, with 51 final studies identified, abstracted, and synthesized using the matrix method. Community-based initiatives using personalized/localized tactics combined with upstream policy-supported structural measures and management-supported place-based initiatives implemented in hospitals, workplaces, and schools were the most self-reported effective interventions. Studies that reported greater success had used a greater number of the social marketing benchmark criteria (behavioral focus, formative research, segmentation, exchange, competition, marketing mix, community involvement, and integration).