BACKGROUND: Health-promoting environments advance health and prevent chronic disease. Hospitals have been charged to promote health and wellness to patients, communities, and 5.3 million adults employed in United States health care environments. METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, the Hospital Nutrition Environment Scan (HNES) was used to measure the nutrition environment of hospital cafeterias and evaluate the influence of the LiVe Well Plate health initiative. Twenty-one hospitals in the Intermountain West region were surveyed between October 2013 and May 2014. Six hospitals participated in the LiVe Well Plate health initiative and were compared with 15 hospitals not participating. The LiVe Well Plate health initiative identified and promoted a healthy meal defined as <600 kcal, <700 mg sodium, and <30% fat. Signage with nutrition information and health initiative branding were also posted at point of purchase. Hospital cafeterias were scored on four subcategories: facilitators and barriers, grab-and-go items, menu offerings, and selection options at point of purchase. RESULTS: Overall, hospitals scored 35.3±13.7 (range=7 to 63) points of 86 total possible points. Cafeterias in health initiative hospitals had significantly higher mean nutrition composite scores compared with non-health initiative hospitals (49.2 vs 29.7; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Promoting healthy entrées with nutrition information and branding has a positive influence on the nutrition environment of hospital cafeterias. Additional research is needed to quantify and strategize ways to improve nutrition environments within hospital cafeterias and assess the influence on healthy lifestyle behaviors.
BACKGROUND: Health-promoting environments advance health and prevent chronic disease. Hospitals have been charged to promote health and wellness to patients, communities, and 5.3 million adults employed in United States health care environments. METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, the Hospital Nutrition Environment Scan (HNES) was used to measure the nutrition environment of hospital cafeterias and evaluate the influence of the LiVe Well Plate health initiative. Twenty-one hospitals in the Intermountain West region were surveyed between October 2013 and May 2014. Six hospitals participated in the LiVe Well Plate health initiative and were compared with 15 hospitals not participating. The LiVe Well Plate health initiative identified and promoted a healthy meal defined as <600 kcal, <700 mg sodium, and <30% fat. Signage with nutrition information and health initiative branding were also posted at point of purchase. Hospital cafeterias were scored on four subcategories: facilitators and barriers, grab-and-go items, menu offerings, and selection options at point of purchase. RESULTS: Overall, hospitals scored 35.3±13.7 (range=7 to 63) points of 86 total possible points. Cafeterias in health initiative hospitals had significantly higher mean nutrition composite scores compared with non-health initiative hospitals (49.2 vs 29.7; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Promoting healthy entrées with nutrition information and branding has a positive influence on the nutrition environment of hospital cafeterias. Additional research is needed to quantify and strategize ways to improve nutrition environments within hospital cafeterias and assess the influence on healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Authors: Carolyn J Brooks; Jessica Barrett; James Daly; Rebekka Lee; Nineequa Blanding; Anne McHugh; David Williams; Steven Gortmaker Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2017-10-19 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Angie L Cradock; Jessica L Barrett; James G Daly; Rebecca S Mozaffarian; John Stoddard; Meg Her; Kim Etingoff; Rebekka M Lee Journal: Prev Med Rep Date: 2022-04-04
Authors: Carrie Tsai; Erika Svensen; Victoria M Flood; Yasmine Probst; Kathryn Reilly; Stephen Corbett; Jason H Y Wu Journal: Nutrients Date: 2018-02-15 Impact factor: 5.717