Towards healthier food choices for hospital staff and visitors: impacts of a healthy food and drink policy implemented at scale in Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the impact of a healthy food and drink policy on hospital staff and visitors' food purchasing behaviours, and their awareness and support for the changes introduced.

Design

Two repeated cross-sectional surveys, consisting of intercept interviews and observations of food items purchased, were conducted before (March-July 2018) and after (April-June 2019) the target date for implementation of thirteen food and drink practices (31 December 2018). Food purchases were coded as 'Everyday' (healthy) or 'Occasional' (unhealthy).

Setting

Ten randomly selected New South Wales public hospitals, collection sites including hospital entrances and thirteen hospital cafés/cafeterias.

Participants

Surveys were completed by 4808 hospital staff and visitors

SUBMITTER: Cranney L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10195515 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature