title: Can a community of practice equip public health nutritionists to work with remote retail to improve the food supply?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine the influence on practice of a community of practice designed for public health nutritionists who work with retail stores in remote Indigenous communities in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive evaluation of the community of practice participants' perspectives using the most significant change technique and individual in-depth interviews was conducted. Data were analysed using thematic and content analysis with a focus on answering the evaluation questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve public health nutritionists employed to work with remote Indigenous community stores were involved. The community of practice was reported to develop competence through problem solving, knowledge sharing and building confidence for innovative work. Building competence was achieved through accessible and timely professional support. Sharing stories and being encouraged to reflect on practice was valued and supported the participant's practice. Working to improve the food supply is challenging but there is value in being supported by like-minded colleagues to stay focused on this work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most participants perceived the community of practice intervention to be an effective strategy to improve their work. These findings provide evidence of a promising intervention for building the public health nutrition workforce in remote Indigenous community store retail settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. stacey.holden@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research, Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia. megan.ferguson@menzies.edu.au.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research, Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia. julie.brimblecombe@menzies.edu.au.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brimblecombe
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia. claire.palermo@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Palermo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000379:methods*; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D064686:Nutritionists / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Allied Health; Australia/Pacific; Health Promotion; Nutrition; Workforce