title: ShopSmart 4 Health - protocol of a skills-based randomised controlled trial promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among socioeconomically disadvantaged women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need for evidence on the most effective and cost-effective approaches for promoting healthy eating among groups that do not meet dietary recommendations for good health, such as those with low incomes or experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. This paper describes the ShopSmart 4 Health study, a randomised controlled trial conducted by Deakin University, Coles Supermarkets and the Heart Foundation, to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a skill-building intervention for promoting increased purchasing and consumption of fruits and vegetables amongst women of low socioeconomic position (SEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  ShopSmart 4 Health employed a randomised controlled trial design. Women aged 18-60 years, holding a Coles store loyalty card, who shopped at Coles stores within socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods and met low-income eligibility criteria were invited to participate. Consenting women completed a baseline survey assessing food shopping and eating habits and food-related behaviours and attitudes. On receipt of their completed survey, women were randomised to either a skill-building intervention or a wait-list control condition. Intervention effects will be evaluated via self-completion surveys and using supermarket transaction sales data, collected at pre- and post-intervention and 6-month follow-up. An economic evaluation from a societal perspective using a cost-consequences approach will compare the costs and outcomes between intervention and control groups. Process evaluation will be undertaken to identify perceived value and effects of intervention components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will provide data to address the currently limited evidence base regarding the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of skill-building intervention strategies aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among socioeconomically disadvantaged women, a target group at high risk of poor diets.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN48771770.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia. kylie.ball@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.forename: Ha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrianopoulos
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: Briohny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McNeilly
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lichomets
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003132:Commerce; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*; D005638:Fruit / Q000191:economics; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018401:Sample Size; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014675:Vegetables / Q000191:economics