Comparing and contrasting responses to tobacco control and obesity policies: a qualitative study

Environmental determinants of infectious and chronic disease prevention behaviours: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative research

Regulatory health policies facilitate desired health behaviours in communities, and among them, smoke-free policies and COVID-19 restrictions have been widely implemented. Qualitative research studies have explored how these measures and other environmental influences shape preventive behaviours. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize previously published qualitative research, generate across-study themes, and propose recommendations for behaviour change interventions. We used a comprehensive search strategy, relevance screening and confirmation, data extraction, quality assessment, thematic synthesis, and quality-of-evidence assessment. In total, 87 relevant studies were identified. Findings were grouped under six overarching themes and mapped under three categories: (i) the political environment, (ii) the sociocultural environment, and (iii) the physical environment. These findings provide insights into the environmental influences of behaviour and indicate future interventions may be more effective by considering moral norms, community norms, policy support, and group identity.

Parents' Perceptions and Responses to the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy

OBJECTIVE

To record parents' awareness of the UK soft drinks industry levy (SDIL) and explore associations between negative psychological reactance to the levy and motivation and intentions to change consumption and purchasing.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey with UK-based parents of children aged 5-11 years (n = 237). Regression analyses were used to test associations between psychosocial responses to the levy and behavioral intentions to change family consumption and purchasing.

RESULTS

A total of 92% of responding parents were aware of the SDIL. Of the responding parents, 57% supported its aims, but 29% felt it threatened their freedom of choice. A total of 41% expressed intention to change shopping habits or restrict their child's intake as a result. Reactance and motivation were poorer in low-income families, and intentions to change were positively predicted by motivation.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This snapshot suggests that the UK SDIL is largely supported by parents and associated with intentions to change their children's intake.