Development and implementation of a food store-based intervention to improve diet in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Effective approaches for the prevention and reduction of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases are urgently needed. Food store-centered programs represent one approach that may be both effective and sustainable. The authors developed a food store-based intervention in the Marshall Islands using qualitative and quantitative formative research methods, including a store usage survey (n = 184) and in-depth interviews with large-store managers (n = 13), small-store managers (n = 7), customers (n = 10), and community leaders (n = 4). This process was followed up by development and piloting of specific intervention components and workshops to finalize materials. The final intervention combined mass media (newspaper articles, video, radio announcements) and in-store components (shelf labels, cooking demonstrations, posters, recipe cards) and had high store-owner support and participation. High levels of exposure to the intervention were achieved during the 10-week period of implementation. This model for developing food store-based interventions is applicable to other settings.
Gittelsohn
Joel
J
Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Dyckman
William
W
Tan
May Lynn
ML
Boggs
Malia K
MK
Frick
Kevin D
KD
Alfred
Julie
J
Winch
Peter J
PJ
Haberle
Heather
H
Palafox
Neal A
NA
D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005522:Food Services; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D008849:Micronesia; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D040241:Social Marketing