142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Understanding the C.O.S.T. of unhealthy retail environments: Disseminating POS research results through a dynamic youth advocacy program in New Orleans

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM

Megan Tulikangas, MPP , KDH Research & Communication, Inc., Atlanta, GA
Lauren Czaplicki, MPH , Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Lindsey Rudov, MPH(c) , Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Stephanie Kennedy, MPH , NO/AIDS Task Force, New Orleans, LA
Jez Luckett, BS , Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Heather Farb, MPH , Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) conducted a 2013 census of all 513 retail outlets in Orleans Parish. This census assessed the availability, placement, pricing, and promotion of tobacco, alcohol, and food across New Orleans’ neighborhoods. This research identified disparities across the city, while paying particular attention POS tactics that target youth. To disseminate research findings back to the community, an innovative curriculum was developed to teach New Orleans youth how to make healthy choices at the point of sale (POS) and advocate for change in their surrounding retail environment.

Methods: This curriculum used interactive activities to teach youth about the retail environment in their neighborhoods. Activities such as shopping in a mock store, quickly identifying POS tactics in photos, and an advocacy resource gallery walk were used to transform the complex 2013 census data into easier messages for youth. Research findings were also simplified into neighborhood-level maps, and a guided protocol was used to help students understand the availability and promotion of unhealthy products where they live and shop. Feasibility surveys solicited feedback from teachers and interactive Audience Response Survey technology facilitated pre-/post-student assessments.  Audio recordings were coded to measure qualitative shifts in youth understanding of POS tactics and their environment.

Discussion: To effectively share complex research findings with youth, TFL developed an innovative advocacy curriculum. Similar programs that are interested in disseminating complex research results to youth may benefit from adapting the model and tools used for this curriculum.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Communication and informatics
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Discuss how measurement of products in the retail environment informs discussion around healthy shopping behaviors with youth. Describe interactive activities used to relate complex concepts to youth about the retail environment.

Keyword(s): Advocacy, Health Disparities/Inequities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold an MPP from the University of Chicago, where I specialized in program evaluation and methods of statistical and economic analysis. I provide evaluation expertise and policy guidance to comprehensive tobacco control initiatives that prevent and reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4310.0: Models and Tools of Effective Advocacy