Stakeholder perspectives on the effectiveness of the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership: a qualitative study

Emalie Rosewarne,Kathy Trieu,Kirstan Corben,Wai-Kwan Chislett,Jacqui Webster,Briar Mckenzie,Kellie-Ann Jolly,Jenny Reimers

doi:10.1186/s40795-021-00414-6

Abstract

BackgroundInterventions to reduce population salt intake are feasible and cost-effective. The Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership implemented a complex, multi-faceted salt reduction intervention between 2014 and 2020 in the Australian state of Victoria. This study aimed to understand stakeholder perspectives on the effectiveness of the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with Partnership and food industry stakeholders. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was adapted for the Partnership intervention and used to guide the qualitative analysis.ResultsFourteen Partnership and seven food industry stakeholders were interviewed. The Partnership was viewed as essential for intervention planning and decision-making and an enabler for intervention delivery. The goals of capacity building and collaborative action were perceived to have been achieved. The implementation team executed intended intervention activities and outputs, with some adaptations to strategy. Barriers and enablers to implementation were identified by interviewees, such as compatibility of individual, organisational and Partnership values and building positive relationships between the Partnership and food industry, respectively. Legal, political, social, environmental, technological and economic factors affecting intervention design, delivery and outcomes were identified.ConclusionsEstablishing a Partnership with diverse skills and experience facilitated collaborative action, capacity building and execution of the intervention. Monitoring and evaluating implementation informed strategy adaptations, which allowed optimisation of Partnership strategy. The importance of developing strong communication networks between strategic and implementation-levels was a key lesson.

Highlights

Interventions to reduce population salt intake are feasible and cost-effective
Seven food industry stakeholders agreed to be interviewed, two declined as they no longer worked for the company engaged by the Partnership, and ten did not respond
Of the seven food industry stakeholders, one was employed by a major retailer and 6 were from large food manufacturing companies [19]

Summary

Introduction

Interventions to reduce population salt intake are feasible and cost-effective. Salt reduction interventions have been identified as feasible, cost-effective approaches to reduce the noncommunicable disease burden attributable to excess salt consumption [1, 2]. In an effort to reduce the saltrelated non-communicable disease burden, in 2013, United Nations Member States committed to the global target of a 30% relative reduction in average population salt intake by 2025 [5]. Despite this commitment, coordinated efforts to reduce salt intake in many countries, including Australia, have been lacking [6, 7]. To coordinate actions to reduce salt intake, in 2014 the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership (referred to as the Partnership) was established by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)

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