Changes in quantity, spending, and nutritional characteristics of adult, adolescent and child urban corner store purchases after an environmental intervention

  • Hannah G. Lawmana, , ,
  • Stephanie Vander Veura,
  • GiridharMallyab,
  • Tara A. McCoya,
  • Alexis Wojtanowskia,
  • Lisa Colbyb,
  • Timothy A. Sandersa,
  • Michelle R. Lenta,
  • Brianna A. Sandovalc,
  • Sandy Shermanc,
  • Judith Wylie Rosettd,
  • Gary D. Fostera

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess one-year changes in corner store purchases (nutritional characteristics, amount spent) of children, adolescents, and adults in a low-income urban environment before and after implementing an environmental intervention to increase the availability of healthier products.

Methods

Corner store owners were provided tools (trainings, signage, refrigeration) to increase the promotion and availability of several healthy foods. Based on the degree of support provided, stores were classified as “basic” or “high-intensity” intervention stores. Data on purchases and their nutrient content were gathered (n=8671 at baseline, n=5949 at follow-up) through customer purchase assessment interviews and direct observation outside of 192 corner stores in Philadelphia from March 2011 to August 2012.

Results

At baseline, shoppers spent $2.81±3.52 for 643±1065kcal. Energy, select nutrients, and the total amount spent did not significantly change in the overall sample from baseline to follow-up. Similarly, there was no effect on energy and nutrient content when comparing changes over time between basic and high-intensity stores.

Conclusions

There were no significant changes in the energy or nutrient content of corner store purchases one year after implementation of environmental changes to increase the availability of healthier products.

Keywords

  • Dietary intake;
  • Bodega;
  • Obesity

Standing time and all-cause mortality in a large cohort of Australian adults

  • Hidde P. van derPloega, b, , ,
  • TienCheyb,
  • Ding Dingb,
  • Josephine Y. Chaub,
  • Emmanuel Stamatakisc, d, e,
  • Adrian E. Baumanb

Abstract

Objective

To determine the association between standing time and all-cause mortality.

Methods

Prospective questionnaire data from 221,240 individuals from the 45 and Up Study were linked to mortality data from the New South Wales Registry of Deaths (Australia) from February 1, 2006 to June 17, 2012. Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality according to standing time at baseline were estimated in 2013 using Cox regression modelling, adjusted for sex, age, education, urban/rural residence, physical activity, sitting time, body mass index, smoking status, self-rated health and disability.

Results

During 937,411 person years (mean follow-up=4.2yr) 8009 deaths occurred. All-cause mortality hazard ratios were 0.90 (95% CI 0.85–0.95), 0.85 (95% CI 0.80–0.95), and 0.76 (95% CI 0.69–0.95) for standing 2–≤5h/d, 5–≤8h/d, or >8h/d respectively, compared to standing two or less hours per day. Further analyses revealed no significant interactions between standing and sex (p=0.93), the presence/absence of cardiovascular disease or diabetes (p=0.22), BMI (p=0.78), physical activity (p=0.16) and sitting time (p=0.22).

Conclusion

This study showed a dose–response association between standing time and all-cause mortality in Australian adults aged 45years and older. Increasing standing may hold promise for alleviating the health risks of prolonged sitting.

Keywords

  • Sedentary behaviour;
  • Standing;
  • Physical activity;
  • All-cause mortality;
  • Epidemiology

Barriers to healthcare seeking, beliefs about cancer and the role of socio-economic position. A Danish population-based study

  • Line Hvidberga, b, , ,
  • Christian Nielsen Wulffc, ,
  • Anette Fischer Pedersena, ,
  • Peter Vedsteda,

Abstract

Background

Cancer-related health behaviours may be affected by barriers to healthcare seeking and beliefs about cancer. The aim was to assess anticipated barriers to healthcare seeking and beliefs about cancer in a sample of the Danish population and to assess the association with socio-economic position.

Methods

A population-based telephone interview with 3,000 randomly sampled persons aged 30years or older was performed using the Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer measure from 31 May to 4 July 2011. The Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer measure includes statements about four anticipated barriers to healthcare seeking and three positively and three negatively framed beliefs about cancer. For all persons, register-based information on socio-economic position was obtained through Statistics Denmark.

Results

Two anticipated barriers, worry about what the doctor might find and worry about wasting the doctor’s time, were present among 27% and 15% of the respondents, respectively. Overall, a high proportion of respondents concurred with positive beliefs about cancer; fewer concurred with negative beliefs. Having a low educational level and a low household income were strongly associated with having negative beliefs about cancer.

Conclusion

The fact that worry about what the doctor might find and worry about wasting the doctor’s time were commonly reported barriers call for initiatives in general practice. The association between low educational level and low household income and negative beliefs about cancer might to some degree explain the negative socio-economic gradient in cancer outcome.

Keywords

  • Denmark;
  • cancer;
  • barriers;
  • beliefs;
  • healthcare seeking;
  • socio-economic position;
  • inequality

The impact of computer use in myopia progression: A cohort study in Spain

  • Alejandro Fernández-Monteroa, , ,
  • José Miguel Olmo-Jimenezb,
  • Natalia Olmoc,
  • Maira Bes-Rastrollob, d,
  • Laura Moreno-Galarragae,
  • Javier Moreno-Montañésf,
  • Miguel A. Martínez-Gonzálezb, d

Abstract

Background

Many subjects, especially highly educated subjects, are increasingly exposed to computer use. This exposure might represent an explanation for the growing rates of myopia.

Methods

We assessed 17,217 Spanish university graduates from the SUN project, an open-recruitment cohort. Their mean age was 38.5years (SD 12.1), and their mean time of exposure to computers 14.3h/week (SD 14.6). We estimated multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the risk of myopia development and/or progression (>=0.5 diopters) according to baseline exposure to computer and to changes in exposure.

Results

The age and sex-adjusted OR comparing 003E40h/week of exposure versus10h/week was 1.34 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12 - 1.60). This association remained essentially unchanged after additional adjustments. Comparing participants who increased their exposure to computers, versus those with no change, the age and sex-adjusted OR was 1.49 (1.34–1.66). This result was unchanged after additional adjustments.

Conclusions

To our knowledge this is the first large longitudinal assessment in young adults, showing that exposure to computer use is associated with myopia development or progression in a cohort of Spanish university graduates. Further studies are needed to confirm these epidemiological findings.

Keywords

  • SUN project;
  • myopia;
  • computer use

Can skin cancer prevention and early detection be improved via mobile phone text messaging? A randomised, attention-control trial

  • PhilippaYoula,
  • H. Peter Soyerb,
  • Peter Baadea,
  • Alison L. Marshallc,
  • Linda Finchc,
  • Monika Jandac,

Abstract

Objective

To test the impact of a theory-based, SMS (text message)-delivered behavioural intervention (Healthy Text) targeting sun protection or skin self-examination behaviours compared to attention-control.

Method

Overall, 546 participants aged 18–42 years were randomised using a computer-generated number list to the skin self-examination (N=176), sun protection (N=187), or attention-control (N=183) text messages group. Each group received 21 text messages about their assigned topic over 12months (12 weekly messages for three months, then monthly messages for the next nine months). Data was collected via telephone survey at baseline, three-, and 12-months across Queensland from January 2012 to August 2013.

Results

One year after baseline, the sun protection (mean change 0.12; P=0.030) and skin self-examination groups (mean change 0.12; P=0.035) had significantly greater improvement in their sun protection habits (SPH) index compared to the attention-control group (reference mean change 0.02). The increase in the proportion of participants who reported any skin self-examination from baseline to 12months was significantly greater in the skin self-examination intervention group (103/163; 63%; P0.001) than the sun protection (83/173; 48%), or attention-control (65/165; 36%) groups. There was no significant effect of the intervention for participants who self-reported whole-body skin self-examination, sun tanning behaviour, or sunburn behaviours.

Conclusion

The Healthy Text intervention was effective in inducing significant improvements in sun protection and any type of skin self-examination behaviours.

Trial registration

The Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials register (ACTRN12612000577819).

Funding

Cancer Australia 1011999.

Keywords

  • skin cancer;
  • prevention;
  • health promotion;
  • text messaging