Can even minimal news coverage influence consumer health-related behaviour? A case study of iodized salt sales, Australia.

Full Abstract

Lack of iodine in the diet can cause a spectrum of conditions, known as iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). While iodized salt has been retailed in Australia since the 1960s, sales have remained low, at approximately 10% of total edible salt sales. Salt has never been promoted, advertised or discounted by retailers or manufacturers. Extensive news coverage of health issues has often been shown to influence consumer behaviour. But can even modest news coverage generate changes in consumer health-related behaviour? We report a significant increase (5.2%) in national iodized salt sales after a brief period of television and newspaper reports about IDD and the benefits of using iodized salt during and after the Australian National Iodine Nutrition Study in 2003 and 2004. We conclude that even brief news media exposure can influence health-related decisions.

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Author information

Author/s: Li, Mu (M); Chapman, Simon (S); Agho, Kingsley (K); Eastman, Creswell J (CJ);

Affiliation: School of Public HealthUniversity of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. muli(-atsign-)health.usyd.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Health education research (Health Educ Res), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 23 (issue 3) : pp 543-8

Dates: Created 2008/05/27; Completed 2008/07/22;

PMID: 17639120, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Australia
Health Behavior
Health Education - methods
Humans

Iodine - administration & dosage
Newspapers
Sodium Chloride, Dietary - administration & dosage
Television

Associated Chemicals: Sodium Chloride, Dietary (0) ; iodized salt (0) ; Iodine (7553-56-2)

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