Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments
Current tools scoring the healthiness of food retail outlets do not reflect outlets found in rural locations. This study aimed to adapt pre-existing Australian scoring tools to represent non-metropolitan areas. Rural nutrition experts were identified, and a modified Delphi technique was used to adap...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/21/4660 |
| _version_ | 1797631512364974080 |
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| author | Tracy L. Schumacher Carissa A. Alderton Leanne J. Brown Susan Heaney Laura Alston Katherine Kent Stephanie Louise Godrich |
| author_facet | Tracy L. Schumacher Carissa A. Alderton Leanne J. Brown Susan Heaney Laura Alston Katherine Kent Stephanie Louise Godrich |
| author_sort | Tracy L. Schumacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Current tools scoring the healthiness of food retail outlets do not reflect outlets found in rural locations. This study aimed to adapt pre-existing Australian scoring tools to represent non-metropolitan areas. Rural nutrition experts were identified, and a modified Delphi technique was used to adapt two pre-existing, food-scoring tools in five iterative stages. Stages included identifying all relevant outlets, providing a description and score for each, ensuring consistency between outlet scores and pre-existing, metro-centric tools, and providing instructions for correct use. Six rural nutrition experts were identified and engaged in the modified Delphi technique. The final tool consisted of 12 categories of food outlets and listed 35 individual outlets. Consistent with pre-existing Australian tools, scores ranged from +10 to −10 and included descriptions reflective of rural retail outlets. Scores were based on whether the majority of foods offered within the outlet were consistent with foods recommended in national health guidelines. The developed tool was designed to accommodate the diverse nature of food retail outlets found in non-metropolitan areas. This study assists in explaining the link between the food environment and health in populations living rurally. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:23:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b17e063c44134e8791fd6c80871a486d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:23:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-b17e063c44134e8791fd6c80871a486d2023-11-10T15:09:57ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-11-011521466010.3390/nu15214660Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail EnvironmentsTracy L. Schumacher0Carissa A. Alderton1Leanne J. Brown2Susan Heaney3Laura Alston4Katherine Kent5Stephanie Louise Godrich6Department of Rural Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, NSW 2340, AustraliaDepartment of Rural Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, NSW 2340, AustraliaDepartment of Rural Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, NSW 2340, AustraliaFood and Nutrition Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW 2305, AustraliaDeakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, AustraliaSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaCentre for People, Place, and Planet, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, AustraliaCurrent tools scoring the healthiness of food retail outlets do not reflect outlets found in rural locations. This study aimed to adapt pre-existing Australian scoring tools to represent non-metropolitan areas. Rural nutrition experts were identified, and a modified Delphi technique was used to adapt two pre-existing, food-scoring tools in five iterative stages. Stages included identifying all relevant outlets, providing a description and score for each, ensuring consistency between outlet scores and pre-existing, metro-centric tools, and providing instructions for correct use. Six rural nutrition experts were identified and engaged in the modified Delphi technique. The final tool consisted of 12 categories of food outlets and listed 35 individual outlets. Consistent with pre-existing Australian tools, scores ranged from +10 to −10 and included descriptions reflective of rural retail outlets. Scores were based on whether the majority of foods offered within the outlet were consistent with foods recommended in national health guidelines. The developed tool was designed to accommodate the diverse nature of food retail outlets found in non-metropolitan areas. This study assists in explaining the link between the food environment and health in populations living rurally.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/21/4660ruralfood environmentfood retaildietnutrition |
| spellingShingle | Tracy L. Schumacher Carissa A. Alderton Leanne J. Brown Susan Heaney Laura Alston Katherine Kent Stephanie Louise Godrich Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments Nutrients rural food environment food retail diet nutrition |
| title | Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments |
| title_full | Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments |
| title_short | Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments |
| title_sort | development of a scoring tool for australian rural food retail environments |
| topic | rural food environment food retail diet nutrition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/21/4660 |
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