PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a supermarket point-of-purchase intervention could increase shoppers' consumption of fruits and vegetables. METHODS:Eight supermarkets in rural Iowa were randomized to receive either an 8-month intervention or no intervention. The intervention consisted of: (1) one-page supermarket flyers that identified fruits and vegetables on sale, gave receipts and menu ideas for using sale foods, and gave a store coupon worth 50 cents toward the purchase of any fruit or vegetable; (2) store signage to identify fruits and vegetables featured on the flyer; and (3) consciousness raising activities such as food demonstrations and nutrition related signage. Evaluation was based on exit interviews and take-home surveys, completed by random samples of 120 shoppers from each store at baseline and approximately 1-year post randomization. RESULTS: At follow-up, 42.9% of intervention store shoppers and 6.5% of control shoppers recalled seeing the intervention flyer. Thirty-six percent of intervention shoppers had used a 50-cent coupon and 18% had used a recipe. Approximately 70% of all shoppers had purchased fruits or vegetables on the day they were interviewed, which did not differ between intervention and control stores. Compared to change in control shoppers, there was a borderline statistically significant 8.4 percentage point increase (p < .07) in the percentage of intervention store shoppers in the action or maintenance stages of dietary change, but there was no corresponding increase in fruit or vegetable consumption. DISCUSSION: Studies to test point-of-purchase interventions are difficult to design, implement, and evaluate. More powerful interventions are probably necessary to induce shoppers to purchase and consume more fruits and vegetables.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a supermarket point-of-purchase intervention could increase shoppers' consumption of fruits and vegetables. METHODS: Eight supermarkets in rural Iowa were randomized to receive either an 8-month intervention or no intervention. The intervention consisted of: (1) one-page supermarket flyers that identified fruits and vegetables on sale, gave receipts and menu ideas for using sale foods, and gave a store coupon worth 50 cents toward the purchase of any fruit or vegetable; (2) store signage to identify fruits and vegetables featured on the flyer; and (3) consciousness raising activities such as food demonstrations and nutrition related signage. Evaluation was based on exit interviews and take-home surveys, completed by random samples of 120 shoppers from each store at baseline and approximately 1-year post randomization. RESULTS: At follow-up, 42.9% of intervention store shoppers and 6.5% of control shoppers recalled seeing the intervention flyer. Thirty-six percent of intervention shoppers had used a 50-cent coupon and 18% had used a recipe. Approximately 70% of all shoppers had purchased fruits or vegetables on the day they were interviewed, which did not differ between intervention and control stores. Compared to change in control shoppers, there was a borderline statistically significant 8.4 percentage point increase (p < .07) in the percentage of intervention store shoppers in the action or maintenance stages of dietary change, but there was no corresponding increase in fruit or vegetable consumption. DISCUSSION: Studies to test point-of-purchase interventions are difficult to design, implement, and evaluate. More powerful interventions are probably necessary to induce shoppers to purchase and consume more fruits and vegetables.
Authors: Leonard H Epstein; Noelle Jankowiak; Chantal Nederkoorn; Hollie A Raynor; Simone A French; Eric Finkelstein Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2012-02-29 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Leonard H Epstein; Samina Raja; Tinuke Oluyomi Daniel; Rocco A Paluch; Denise E Wilfley; Brian E Saelens; James N Roemmich Journal: Ann Behav Med Date: 2012-10