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Vaillancourt C, Ahmed M, Kirk S, Labonté MÈ, Laar A, Mah CL, Minaker L, Olstad DL, Potvin Kent M, Provencher V, Prowse R, Raine KD, Schram A, Zavala-Mora D, Rancourt-Bouchard M, Vanderlee L. Food environment research in Canada: a rapid review of methodologies and measures deployed between 2010 and 2021. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2024; 21:18. [PMID: 38373957 PMCID: PMC10875887 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-024-01558-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous research methodologies have been used to examine food environments. Existing reviews synthesizing food environment measures have examined a limited number of domains or settings and none have specifically targeted Canada. This rapid review aimed to 1) map research methodologies and measures that have been used to assess food environments; 2) examine what food environment dimensions and equity related-factors have been assessed; and 3) identify research gaps and priorities to guide future research. A systematic search of primary articles evaluating the Canadian food environment in a real-world setting was conducted. Publications in English or French published in peer-reviewed journals between January 1 2010 and June 17 2021 and indexed in Web of Science, CAB Abstracts and Ovid MEDLINE were considered. The search strategy adapted an internationally-adopted food environment monitoring framework covering 7 domains (Food Marketing; Labelling; Prices; Provision; Composition; Retail; and Trade and Investment). The final sample included 220 articles. Overall, Trade and Investment (1%, n = 2), Labelling (7%, n = 15) and, to a lesser extent, Prices (14%, n = 30) were the least studied domains in Canada. Among Provision articles, healthcare (2%, n = 1) settings were underrepresented compared to school (67%, n = 28) and recreation and sport (24%, n = 10) settings, as was the food service industry (14%, n = 6) compared to grocery stores (86%, n = 36) in the Composition domain. The study identified a vast selection of measures employed in Canada overall and within single domains. Equity-related factors were only examined in half of articles (n = 108), mostly related to Retail (n = 81). A number of gaps remain that prevent a holistic and systems-level analysis of food environments in Canada. As Canada continues to implement policies to improve the quality of food environments in order to improve dietary patterns, targeted research to address identified gaps and harmonize methods across studies will help evaluate policy impact over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Vaillancourt
- École de Nutrition, Centre de Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Université Laval, 2425 Rue de L'Agriculture, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mavra Ahmed
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Sara Kirk
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, 6230 South Street, Kjipuktuk (Halifax), NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Labonté
- École de Nutrition, Centre de Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Université Laval, 2425 Rue de L'Agriculture, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Amos Laar
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Catherine L Mah
- School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Leia Minaker
- School of Planning, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3T1, Canada
| | - Dana Lee Olstad
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Monique Potvin Kent
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada
| | - Véronique Provencher
- École de Nutrition, Centre de Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Université Laval, 2425 Rue de L'Agriculture, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Rachel Prowse
- Division of Community Health and Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Kim D Raine
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Ave Northwest, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Ashley Schram
- School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), ANU College of Asia & the Pacific, The Australian National University, 8 Fellows Road, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2600, Australia
| | - Daniela Zavala-Mora
- Science Library, Université Laval, 1045 Avenue de La Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Maryka Rancourt-Bouchard
- École de Nutrition, Centre de Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Université Laval, 2425 Rue de L'Agriculture, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Lana Vanderlee
- École de Nutrition, Centre de Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Université Laval, 2425 Rue de L'Agriculture, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
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Turon H, Wolfenden L, Finch M, McCrabb S, Naughton S, O'Connor SR, Renda A, Webb E, Doherty E, Howse E, Harrison CL, Love P, Smith N, Sutherland R, Yoong SL. Dissemination of public health research to prevent non-communicable diseases: a scoping review. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:757. [PMID: 37095484 PMCID: PMC10123991 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15622-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dissemination is a critical element of the knowledge translation pathway, and a necessary step to ensure research evidence is adopted and implemented by key end users in order to improve health outcomes. However, evidence-based guidance to inform dissemination activities in research is limited. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe the scientific literature examining strategies to disseminate public health evidence related to the prevention of non-communicable diseases. METHODS Medline, PsycInfo and EBSCO Search Ultimate were searched in May 2021 for studies published between January 2000 and the search date that reported on the dissemination of evidence to end users of public health evidence, within the context of the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Studies were synthesised according to the four components of Brownson and colleagues' Model for Dissemination of Research (source, message, channel and audience), as well as by study design. RESULTS Of the 107 included studies, only 14% (n = 15) directly tested dissemination strategies using experimental designs. The remainder primarily reported on dissemination preferences of different populations, or outcomes such as awareness, knowledge and intentions to adopt following evidence dissemination. Evidence related to diet, physical activity and/or obesity prevention was the most disseminated topic. Researchers were the source of disseminated evidence in over half the studies, and study findings/knowledge summaries were more frequently disseminated as the message compared to guidelines or an evidence-based program/intervention. A broad range of dissemination channels were utilised, although peer-reviewed publications/conferences and presentations/workshops predominated. Practitioners were the most commonly reported target audience. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant gap in the peer reviewed literature, with few experimental studies published that analyse and evaluate the effect of different sources, messages and target audiences on the determinants of uptake of public health evidence for prevention. Such studies are important as they can help inform and improve the effectiveness of current and future dissemination practices in public health contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Turon
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.
| | - Luke Wolfenden
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
| | - Meghan Finch
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
| | - Sam McCrabb
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Shaan Naughton
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220, Australia
| | - Sean R O'Connor
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN, Northern Ireland
| | - Ana Renda
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Population Health, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Emily Webb
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Doherty
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
| | - Eloise Howse
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute, Glebe, NSW, 2037, Australia
| | - Cheryce L Harrison
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Penelope Love
- Faculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (SENS), Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Natasha Smith
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia
| | - Rachel Sutherland
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
| | - Sze Lin Yoong
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
- Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220, Australia
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Aylward BL, Milford KM, Storey KE, Nykiforuk CIJ, Raine KD. Citizen science in monitoring food environments: a qualitative collective case study of stakeholders' experiences during the Local Environment Action on Food project in Alberta, Canada. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:665. [PMID: 35387614 PMCID: PMC8985336 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13030-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Citizen science bears potential to build a comprehensive view of global food environments and create a broader discussion about how to improve them. Despite its potential, citizen science has not been fully utilised in food environment research. Thus, we sought to explore stakeholders' experiences of the Local Environment Action on Food (LEAF) project, a community-based intervention that employs a citizen science approach to monitoring food environments. METHODS We used a qualitative collective case study design to explore citizen science through the LEAF process in seven communities in Alberta, Canada. Data generating strategies included semi-structured interviews with citizen scientists (n = 26), document review of communities' Mini Nutrition Report Cards (n = 7), and researcher observation. Data were analyzed in a multi-phase process, using Charmaz's constant comparison analysis strategy. RESULTS Analysis revealed two main themes: relationship building and process factors. Communities used three interconnected strategies, engaging the right people, treading lightly, and reaching a consensus, to navigate the vital but challenging relationship building process. Process factors, which were influences on the LEAF process and relationship building, included the local context, flexibility in the LEAF process, and turnover among LEAF community groups. CONCLUSION Citizen science through the LEAF project supported the creation and application of food environment evidence: it enabled residents to collect and interpret local food environment data, develop realistic recommendations for change, and provided them with an evidence-based advocacy tool to support the implementation of these recommendations. We recommend a web application that enables independent community food environment assessments. Such a tool could stimulate and sustain citizen involvement in food environment efforts, helping to build the necessary evidence base and promote the creation of healthy food environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanne L Aylward
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 4-308 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Krista M Milford
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 4-308 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Kate E Storey
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada
| | - Candace I J Nykiforuk
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 4-308 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Kim D Raine
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 4-308 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
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Aylward BL, Milford KM, Storey KE, Nykiforuk CIJ, Raine KD. Local Environment Action on Food project: impact of a community-based food environment intervention in Canada. Health Promot Int 2021; 37:6346793. [PMID: 34373905 PMCID: PMC9053459 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Children are exposed to food environments that make nutrient-poor, energy-dense food cheap, readily available and heavily marketed; all conditions with potential negative impacts on diet and health. While the need for programmes and policies that improve the status of food environments is clear, greater public support is needed for governments to act. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to examine if community engagement in the Local Environment Action on Food (LEAF) project, a community-based food environment intervention in Alberta, Canada, could build public support and create action to promote healthy food environments. Semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 26 stakeholders from 7 communities explored LEAF’s impact and stakeholder experiences creating change. Data collection and analysis were iterative, following Charmaz’s constant comparative analysis strategy. Participants reported environmental and community impacts from LEAF. Notably, LEAF created a context-specific tool, a Mini Nutrition Report Card, that communities used to promote and support food environment action. Further, analysis outlined perceived barriers and facilitators to creating community-level food environment action, including level of engagement in LEAF, perceived controllability, community priorities, policy enforcement and resources. Findings from this study suggest that community-based interventions, such as LEAF, can help build community capacity and reduce existing barriers to community-level food environment action. Thus, they can provide an effective method to build public awareness, demand and action for healthier food environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanne L Aylward
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Krista M Milford
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Kate E Storey
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2T4, Canada
| | - Candace I J Nykiforuk
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Kim D Raine
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada
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Contextually Appropriate Tools and Solutions to Facilitate Healthy Eating Identified by People with Type 2 Diabetes. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13072301. [PMID: 34371811 PMCID: PMC8308352 DOI: 10.3390/nu13072301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex, multifaceted disease and its treatment involves lifestyle intervention (LI) programs that participants may find difficult to adopt and maintain. The objective of this study is to understand the lived experiences of participants with T2D regarding healthy eating behavior change, in order to identify and incorporate relevant information, skills, and educational approaches into LI programs. An explorative qualitative study was undertaken. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 15 participants. One-on-one, semi-structured, open-ended, and in-depth interviews were conducted. An essentialist paradigm was adopted to accurately report the experiences, meaning, and reality of participants. An inductive approach was used to analyze the data. Participants reported that being diagnosed and living with T2D could be overwhelming, and their ability to manage was influenced by health care providers (HCP), family, and individual context. Many experienced a loop of “good–bad” eating behaviors. Participants expressed desires for future diabetes management that would include program content (nutrition, physical activity, mental health, foot care, and consequences of T2D), program features (understand context, explicit information, individualized, hands-on learning, applicable, realistic, incremental, and practical), program components (access to multidisciplinary team, set goals, track progress and be held accountable, one-on-one sessions, group support, maintenance/follow-up), and policy change. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that T2D management requires more extensive, comprehensive, and ongoing support, guided by the individual participant.
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Brown JA, Ferdinands AR, Prowse R, Reynard D, Raine KD, Nykiforuk CI. Seeing the food swamp for the weeds: Moving beyond food retail mix in evaluating young people's food environments. SSM Popul Health 2021; 14:100803. [PMID: 34041350 PMCID: PMC8142271 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutritional health of children and youth is an increasing cause for concern in Canada. Through food and beverage messaging in multiple environments, young people develop eating behaviours with ramifications throughout their life course. Unhealthy food retailers near schools, recreation facilities, and childcare centres-key activity settings for healthy eating promotion-present repeated, compounding exposures to commercial geomarketing. Geomarketing impacts nutritional health by promoting highly processed, calorie-dense, and nutrient-poor foods and beverages across urban landscapes. While food retail mix (as a ratio of healthy to unhealthy food retailers) can be used to assess food environments at multiple scales, such measures may misrepresent young people's unique experience of these geographic phenomena. Moving beyond uniform conceptualization of food environments, new research methods and tools are needed for children and youth. We investigated young people's food environments in the major Canadian cities of Calgary and Edmonton. Using government-initiated nutrition guidelines, we categorized 55.8% of all food retailers in Calgary, and 59.9% in Edmonton as 'unhealthy'. A Bernoulli trial at the 0.05 alpha level indicated few differences in prevalence proximal to activity settings versus elsewhere in both cities, demonstrating the limited applicability of food retail mix for characterizing young people's food environments. To model unhealthy food retailers geomarketing to children and youth, we considered their proximity to multiple activity settings, using overlapping radial buffers at the 250 m, 500 m, 1000 m, and 1500 m scales. Examining young people's food environments relative to the spaces where they learn and play, we determined that as many as 895 out of 2663 unhealthy food retailers fell within 1500 m of 21+ activity settings. By conceptualizing, measuring, and problematizing these "super-proximal" unhealthy food retailers, urban planners and public health researchers can use these techniques to pinpoint unhealthy food retailers, or "weeds in the food swamp," as a critical site for healthy eating promotion in municipalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ann Brown
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Rachel Prowse
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Darcy Reynard
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kim D. Raine
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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