Persuasive communication and the diminution of the salt intake in heart failure patients: a pilot study.

Objectives: to evaluate the effect of persuasive communication in the modulation of the behavioral intention of reducing the consumption of salt in heart failure patients.

Methods: pilot quasi-experimental study with one group, before and after the application of audiovisual persuasive communication, as guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior. This study used a form built and validated to measure behavioral variables (Beliefs, Attitude, Subjective Norm, and Perceived Behavioral Control). Wilcoxon's test and Spearman's correlation were applied.

Results: 82 heart failure patients who were being monitored in outpatient clinics participated. The medians of the behavioral variables increased significantly after the exposition to persuasive communication, showing a high level of intention to execute the behavior.

Conclusions: persuasive communication positively contributed to influence the behavioral intention of reducing the consumption of salt in people with cardiac insufficiency.