Abstract

Using cash register receipt data to monitor changes in food purchasing behavior

Lori Bilello, PhD, MBA, MHS1, Teina M. Phillips, MPA2 and Michael De Lucca, MHM3
(1)University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, (2)Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Hollywood, FL, (3)Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Inc., Hollywood, FL

APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)

Background: As part of the CDC's Partnerships to Improve Community Health initiative, Broward Regional Health Planning Council (awardee) partnered with a multi-hospital healthcare system to implement the "Go, Slow, Whoa" (GSW) food labeling system in their cafeterias. Objective: Cafeteria cash register receipts were collected and analyzed in order to monitor changes in food and beverage purchasing behavior as a result of the implementation of the GSW food labeling system. Methods: The Council partnered with the hospital dietary staff to incorporate GSW materials that demonstrate the benefits of healthy food and beverage options. Point-of-sale prompts were also used to encourage the purchase and consumption of healthy food and beverage options. In order to determine changes in purchasing behavior of cafeteria patrons, we measured the number and proportion of people who purchased healthy items (“green” foods and beverages) who purchased unhealthy food items (“red” foods and beverages) per day one month before and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the intervention was implemented. Results: Results from the first hospital that participated in the program showed that there was a significant decrease in the number of “red” foods and beverages purchased over the six month period after implementation (p value <.0001) but no significant change in the proportion of “green” foods purchased. Conclusions: Using cash register receipts is a viable tool to monitor the progress of healthy eating initiatives at workplace cafeterias.

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines