Dataset Information

Evaluating the implementation and impact of a healthier checkout programme at a regional convenience store chain.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test the feasibility of implementing and evaluating a healthier checkout pilot study in a convenience store chain.

Design

A quasi-experimental study was conducted comparing a 3-month 'healthier checkouts' intervention in ten convenience stores which stocked eight healthier items in the checkout space and ten comparison stores assigned to continue stocking their current checkout space product mix. All aspects of the intervention were implemented by the retailer. The research team conducted in-person fidelity checks to assess implementation. Sales data were collected from the retailer in order to compare mean baseline to intervention sales of the eight healthier items in intervention and comparison groups while controlling for overall store sales.

Setting

Convenience store chain.

Participants

Twenty convenience stores in New Hampshire.

Results

The increases in sales of healthier items between the baseline and intervention periods among the intervention and comparison stores were not statistically significant; however, the overall pattern of the results showed promising changes that should be expanded on in future studies. Intervention fidelity checks indicated that results may have been attenuated by variability in intervention implementation.

Conclusions

This study advances the evidence for effective promotion of healthier food purchases in the convenience store chain setting and adds to the current literature on retail checkout space interventions. Additional research is needed to confirm and expand these results.

SUBMITTER: Baquero B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10195373 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Evaluating the implementation and impact of a healthier checkout programme at a regional convenience store chain.

Baquero Barbara B Anderson Steeves Elizabeth E Polacsek Michele M De Marco Molly M Chapman Leah L Leone Lucia A LA Simon Caitlin C

Public health nutrition 20210406 11

<h4>Objective</h4>To test the feasibility of implementing and evaluating a healthier checkout pilot study in a convenience store chain.<h4>Design</h4>A quasi-experimental study was conducted comparing a 3-month 'healthier checkouts' intervention in ten convenience stores which stocked eight healthier items in the checkout space and ten comparison stores assigned to continue stocking their current checkout space product mix. All aspects of the intervention were implemented by the retailer. The re ...[more]

PMID: 33820587

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Project description:BACKGROUND:This article reports on the development of a systematic approach to assess for community readiness prior to implementation of a behavioural intervention for childhood obesity. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we developed research tools to evaluate local community centres' organisational readiness and their capacity to implement the intervention. METHODS:Four community Parks and Recreation centres from different states expressed interest in piloting an approach for dissemination and implementation of an evidence-based obesity prevention program for families with young children (Healthier Families). We conducted a mixed methods pre-implementation evaluation using the CFIR to evaluate the alignment of organisational priorities with the Healthier Families programme. Written surveys assessed organisational readiness for change amongst organisational leaders, recreation programmers, and staff (N = 25). Key informant interviews were conducted among staff to assess organisational readiness and with community members to assess community readiness (N = 64). Surveys were analysed with univariate statistics. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using inductive and deductive methods of analysis. RESULTS:Mixed-methods analysis led to the identification of three key domains on which to assess the organisational readiness to adopt a childhood obesity intervention, namely the physical infrastructure, the knowledge infrastructure, and the social infrastructure. The most critical measure of compatibility was the social infrastructure, since obstacles in the knowledge and physical infrastructures could be overcome by the strength of social resources, including the staff's ingenuity and commitment to a healthier community. This approach guided an assessment of organisational readiness prior to community organisations adopting and preparing to disseminate an obesity prevention community-based program in a wide-range of social and environmental contexts. CONCLUSIONS:Using a comprehensive pre-implementation assessment of the knowledge, physical and social infrastructures in a community is an essential step in effective dissemination for community-based behavioural interventions. Our research found that, when evaluating readiness and alignment, a responsive social infrastructure could provide the capacity to overcome potential barriers to implementation in either the knowledge or physical infrastructures.

Project description:BackgroundConsumption of fruit and vegetables is important for health, but is often lower than recommended and tends to be socio-economically patterned with lower consumption in more deprived groups. In 2008, the English Department of Health introduced the Change4Life convenience store programme. This aimed to increase retail access to fresh fruit and vegetables in deprived, urban areas by providing existing convenience stores with a range of support and branded point-of-sale materials and equipment.MethodsWe undertook a mixed-methods study of the Change4Life convenience store programme in the North East of England around two years after initial implementation. Store mapping (n = 87; 100% stores) and systematic in-store observations (n = 74; 85% stores) provided information on intervention fidelity; the variety, purchase price and quality of fresh fruit and vegetables on sale; and purchase price compared to a major supermarket. Ten qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of retailers and other professionals explored experiences of the intervention and provided further insight on quantitative results.ResultsIntervention stores were primarily located in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Fidelity, in terms of presence of branded materials and equipment, was low and much was not being used as intended. Fresh fruit and vegetables on sale were of high quality and had a purchase price around 10% more than comparable products at a major supermarket. Interviewees were supportive of the health improvement aim of the intervention. Retailers were appreciative of part-funding for chill cabinets and free point-of-sale materials. The intervention suffered from: poor initial and on-going communication between the intervention delivery team and retailers; poor availability of replacement point-of-sale materials; and failure to cement intended links with health workers and community organisations.ConclusionsOverall, intervention fidelity was low and the intervention is unlikely to have had a substantial or long-term effect on customers' consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Project description:ImportanceIn March 2021, Berkeley, California, became the world's first jurisdiction to implement a healthy checkout policy, which sets nutrition standards for foods and beverages in store checkouts. This healthy checkout ordinance (HCO) has the potential to improve customers' dietary intake if stores comply by increasing the healthfulness of foods and beverages at checkouts.ObjectivesTo compare the percentage of checkout products that were HCO compliant and that fell into healthy and unhealthy food and beverage categories before and 1 year after HCO implementation in Berkeley relative to comparison cities.Design, setting, and participantsIn this cohort study in which Berkeley implemented an HCO and other cities did not, a difference-in-differences analysis was conducted of 76 258 product facings at checkouts of 23 stores in Berkeley and 75 stores in 3 comparison cities in California. Data were collected in February 2021 (approximately 1 month before implementation of the HCO) and 1 year later in February 2022 and analyzed from October 2023 to May 2024.ExposureThe HCO, which permits only the following products at checkouts in large food stores: nonfood and nonbeverage products, unsweetened beverages, and foods with 5 g or less of added sugars per serving and 200 mg or less of sodium per serving in the following categories: sugar-free gum and mints, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, yogurt or cheese, and whole grains.Main outcomes and measuresA product facing's (1) HCO compliance and (2) category, including healthy compliant categories and unhealthy noncompliant categories, determined using a validated photograph-based tool to assess product characteristics.ResultsOf the 76 258 product facings at store checkouts, the percentage that were HCO compliant increased from 53% (4438 of 8425) to 83% (5966 of 7220) in Berkeley, a 63% increase relative to comparison cities (probability ratio [PR], 1.63; 95% CI, 1.41-1.87). The percentage of food and beverage checkout facings that were HCO compliant increased in Berkeley from 29% (1652 of 5639) to 62% (2007 of 3261), a 125% increase relative to comparison cities (PR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.80-2.82). The percentage of Berkeley food and beverage facings consisting of candy, sugar-sweetened beverages, and other sweets significantly decreased (candy: from 30% [1687 of 5639] to 6% [197 of 3261]; PR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10-0.42; sugar-sweetened beverages: from 11% [596 of 5639] to 5% [157 of 3261]; PR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23-0.75; other sweets: from 7% [413 of 5639] to 3% [101 of 3261]; PR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.88), while the percentage consisting of unsweetened beverages (from 4% [226 of 5639] to 19% [604 of 3261]; PR, 4.76; 95% CI, 2.54-8.91) and healthy foods (from 6% [350 of 5639] to 20% [663 of 3261]; PR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.79-4.72) significantly increased.Conclusions and relevanceThis cohort study of the first healthy checkout policy found substantial improvements in the healthfulness of food environments at checkouts 1 year after implementation of the policy. These results suggest that healthy checkout policies have the potential to improve the healthfulness of store checkouts.

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Project description:IntroductionTo inform tobacco policy and prevention efforts, we examined youth and young adult behaviors at gas-station-convenience stores and whether these behaviors varied by demographics or tobacco use.Aims and methodsBetween June and July 2017, we conducted 990 intercept surveys at convenience stores in North Carolina among 16- to 25-year olds who were susceptible to or used tobacco. We used logistic regression to examine whether demographics or tobacco use predicted pumping gas, entering the store, or purchasing tobacco, gas, food, lottery tickets, or other items inside the store.ResultsMost participants (85.3%) reported ever using tobacco. Most visited that store at least once per week (40.3%) or once within the past month (41.2%). Just over half (55.0%) reported pumping gas at the store. Of those who went or planned to go inside (68.8%), 43.2% purchased food, 39.2% purchased gas, 33.1% purchased tobacco, and 6.8% purchased lottery tickets. Those who were aged 21-25, visited the store two to three times a week, and went inside already were more likely to purchase tobacco (all p < .05). Past 30-day cigarette, cigar, smokeless, and other tobacco uses were positively associated with purchasing tobacco (all p < .05).ConclusionsOur sample of young people who were susceptible to or ever used tobacco regularly visited gas-station-convenience stores, and one-third purchased or planned to purchase tobacco during their visit. Convenience stores appear to be an important access point for young people. Practitioners and policy makers should consider a comprehensive set of strategies to reduce access among youth and young adults.ImplicationsWe conducted 990 intercept surveys among youth and young adults at gas-station-convenience stores. Among our sample of those who had ever used tobacco or were susceptible to use, most visited the store frequently and one-third purchased tobacco, particularly those who used cigarettes and cigars. Tobacco companies heavily market in convenience stores, and our results show tobacco is a product often purchased by susceptible young adults. Practitioners and policy makers should consider prioritizing efforts at convenience stores to reduce product purchase and use.

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Dataset Information

Evaluating the implementation and impact of a healthier checkout programme at a regional convenience store chain.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Evaluating the implementation and impact of a healthier checkout programme at a regional convenience store chain.

Similar Datasets

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