Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative study

Abstract Objective To explore the acceptability and feasibility of choice architecture strategies for dietary change in UK secondary school canteens from the perspectives of pupils, school staff and catering providers through qualitative focus groups and interviews. Results Three focus groups with a...

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Main Authors: Marie Murphy, Daniel Mensah, Elena Mylona, Oyinlola Oyebode
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-09-01
Series:BMC Research Notes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-021-05778-3
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author Marie Murphy
Daniel Mensah
Elena Mylona
Oyinlola Oyebode
author_facet Marie Murphy
Daniel Mensah
Elena Mylona
Oyinlola Oyebode
author_sort Marie Murphy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective To explore the acceptability and feasibility of choice architecture strategies for dietary change in UK secondary school canteens from the perspectives of pupils, school staff and catering providers through qualitative focus groups and interviews. Results Three focus groups with adolescents (n = 15; mean age 13.7 years; standard deviation 1.9) and eight interviews with school staff and caterers recruited from one school and catering provider in Coventry UK were undertaken. The most acceptable choice architecture strategies for intervening to drive healthy dietary choices are those that make use of proximity and positioning, on the basis that convenience was one of the main drivers for food/drink selections. Acknowledging adolescents’ desire for autonomy and for food to be familiar and predictable was considered important in enhancing acceptability. Challenges to the feasibility of nudge strategies included concerns about behavioural issues, increased food waste, and a decline in uptake of canteen purchases. The design of food choice architecture interventions for secondary school settings should consider the specific characteristics of this age group and setting to ensure successful implementation.
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spelling doaj.art-4d49157216d1441c94fa277a5266b42e2022-12-21T22:48:07ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002021-09-011411810.1186/s13104-021-05778-3Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative studyMarie Murphy0Daniel Mensah1Elena Mylona2Oyinlola Oyebode3Warwick Medical School, University of WarwickWarwick Medical School, University of WarwickWarwick Medical School, University of WarwickWarwick Medical School, University of WarwickAbstract Objective To explore the acceptability and feasibility of choice architecture strategies for dietary change in UK secondary school canteens from the perspectives of pupils, school staff and catering providers through qualitative focus groups and interviews. Results Three focus groups with adolescents (n = 15; mean age 13.7 years; standard deviation 1.9) and eight interviews with school staff and caterers recruited from one school and catering provider in Coventry UK were undertaken. The most acceptable choice architecture strategies for intervening to drive healthy dietary choices are those that make use of proximity and positioning, on the basis that convenience was one of the main drivers for food/drink selections. Acknowledging adolescents’ desire for autonomy and for food to be familiar and predictable was considered important in enhancing acceptability. Challenges to the feasibility of nudge strategies included concerns about behavioural issues, increased food waste, and a decline in uptake of canteen purchases. The design of food choice architecture interventions for secondary school settings should consider the specific characteristics of this age group and setting to ensure successful implementation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-021-05778-3Choice architectureDietAdolescentsSchoolsQualitative
spellingShingle Marie Murphy
Daniel Mensah
Elena Mylona
Oyinlola Oyebode
Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative study
BMC Research Notes
Choice architecture
Diet
Adolescents
Schools
Qualitative
title Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative study
title_full Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative study
title_short Acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in UK secondary school canteens: a qualitative study
title_sort acceptability and feasibility of strategies to promote healthy dietary choices in uk secondary school canteens a qualitative study
topic Choice architecture
Diet
Adolescents
Schools
Qualitative
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-021-05778-3
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