IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i16p8764-d617737.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Using a Naturalistic Store Laboratory for Clinical Trials of Point-of-Sale Nutrition Policies and Interventions: A Feasibility and Validation Study

Author

Listed:
  • Marissa G. Hall

    (Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
    Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA)

  • Isabella C. A. Higgins

    (Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA)

  • Anna H. Grummon

    (Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
    Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • Allison J. Lazard

    (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
    Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Carmen E. Prestemon

    (Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA)

  • Jennifer Mendel Sheldon

    (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA)

  • Lindsey Smith Taillie

    (Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA
    Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

Point-of-sale policies such as warnings and taxes are promising tools for improving the nutritional quality of food purchases. Research studies conducted in naturalistic store laboratories could improve the quality of evidence about point-of-sale interventions by allowing for realistic exposure in a controlled setting. This study aimed to assess whether purchasing behavior in a naturalistic store laboratory setting was similar to real-life purchasing behavior and to evaluate participants’ perceptions of store realism and the acceptability of research study protocols in this setting. In a longitudinal observational study in 2019, Latinx parents in North Carolina ( n = 61) attended five weekly visits at the UNC Mini Mart, a naturalistic store laboratory that resembled a small convenience store. At each visit, participants purchased a week’s supply of beverages. Purchases of beverages in the Mini Mart were compared to participants’ purchases from receipts submitted the week prior to the study. Analyses compared the percentage of participants buying sugary drinks and non-sugary drinks in the Mini Mart vs. in real stores using Chi-Square tests with Fisher’s p . The percentage of parents who purchased sugary drinks in the Mini Mart (93%) was not significantly different from the percentage who purchased sugary drinks during the week before the study (74%, p = 0.28). The percentage purchasing non-sugary drinks was similar in the two settings (85% in the Mini Mart vs. 85% from receipts, p = 0.33). Nearly all participants reported that their Mini Mart purchases were similar to real-life purchases (96%); the Mini Mart felt like a real store (94%); they could find all the beverages they were looking for (92%); and they could imagine doing their real-life beverage shopping in the Mini Mart (92%). Moreover, retention was high, with 97% of participants attending the final study visit. These results indicate that naturalistic store laboratories are a promising method for increasing the ecological validity of trials to evaluate point-of-sale interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Marissa G. Hall & Isabella C. A. Higgins & Anna H. Grummon & Allison J. Lazard & Carmen E. Prestemon & Jennifer Mendel Sheldon & Lindsey Smith Taillie, 2021. "Using a Naturalistic Store Laboratory for Clinical Trials of Point-of-Sale Nutrition Policies and Interventions: A Feasibility and Validation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8764-:d:617737
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8764/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8764/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lindsey Smith Taillie & Marcela Reyes & M Arantxa Colchero & Barry Popkin & Camila Corvalán, 2020. "An evaluation of Chile’s Law of Food Labeling and Advertising on sugar-sweetened beverage purchases from 2015 to 2017: A before-and-after study," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Fernanda Mediano Stoltze & Marcela Reyes & Taillie Lindsey Smith & Teresa Correa & Camila Corvalán & Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier, 2019. "Prevalence of Child-Directed Marketing on Breakfast Cereal Packages before and after Chile’s Food Marketing Law: A Pre- and Post-Quantitative Content Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Pasquale E. Rummo & Isabella Higgins & Christina Chauvenet & Annamaria Vesely & Lindsay M. Jaacks & Lindsey Taillie, 2021. "A Standardized Guide to Developing an Online Grocery Store for Testing Nutrition-Related Policies and Interventions in an Online Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-11, April.
    4. George, S. & Duran, N. & Norris, K., 2014. "A systematic review of barriers and facilitators to minority research participation among African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(2), pages 16-31.
    5. Jennifer R. Mendel & Marissa G. Hall & Sabeeh A. Baig & Michelle Jeong & Noel T. Brewer, 2018. "Placing Health Warnings on E-Cigarettes: A Standardized Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, July.
    6. Kim, A.E. & Nonnemaker, J.M. & Loomis, B.R. & Shafer, P.R. & Shaikh, A. & Hill, E. & Holloway, J.W. & Farrelly, M.C., 2014. "Influence of point-of-sale tobacco displays and graphic health warning signs on adults: Evidence from a virtual store experimental study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(5), pages 888-895.
    7. Anna H Grummon & Marissa G Hall, 2020. "Sugary drink warnings: A meta-analysis of experimental studies," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, May.
    8. Powell, Lisa M. & Leider, Julien, 2020. "The impact of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax on beverage prices and volume sold," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nina Margrethe Kynoe & Drude Fugelseth & Ingrid Hanssen, 2020. "When a common language is missing: Nurse–mother communication in the NICU. A qualitative study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(13-14), pages 2221-2230, July.
    2. Crooks, Natasha & Yates, Latrice & Sosina, Wuraola & Johnson, Juquita & Strong, Alexis & Griggs, Brianna & Shipp, Kentrele & Green, Betty & Matthews, Alicia & Johnson, Waldo, 2024. "Strategies for engaging Black male caregivers in family-based research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    3. Amelia S Knopf & Peter Krombach & Amy J Katz & Rebecca Baker & Gregory Zimet, 2021. "Measuring research mistrust in adolescents and adults: Validity and reliability of an adapted version of the Group-Based Medical Mistrust Scale," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, January.
    4. Aranza Valenzuela & Leandro Zambrano & Rocío Velásquez & Catalina Groff & Tania Apablaza & Cecilia Riffo & Sandra Moldenhauer & Pamela Brisso & Marcell Leonario-Rodriguez, 2022. "Discrepancy between Food Classification Systems: Evaluation of Nutri-Score, NOVA Classification and Chilean Front-of-Package Food Warning Labels," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    5. Rohini Chakravarthy & Sarah C Stallings & Michael Williams & Megan Hollister & Mario Davidson & Juan Canedo & Consuelo H Wilkins, 2020. "Factors influencing precision medicine knowledge and attitudes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Christine Mulligan & Anthea K. Christoforou & Laura Vergeer & Jodi T. Bernstein & Mary R. L’Abbé, 2020. "Evaluating the Canadian Packaged Food Supply Using Health Canada’s Proposed Nutrient Criteria for Restricting Food and Beverage Marketing to Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Peter Henley & Tanimola Martins & Reza Zamani, 2023. "Assessing Ethnic Minority Representation in Fibromyalgia Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review of Recruitment Demographics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(24), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Bruce, Marta M. & Ulrich, Connie M. & Webster, Jessica & Richmond, Therese S., 2022. "Injured black men's perceptions of the recovery environment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    9. Charlene S. Aaron, 2016. "Recruitment of African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes Who Care For Persons With Dementia," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 25(1), pages 3-8, February.
    10. William T. Hu & Stephanie M. Bergren & Dana K. Dychtwald & Yiming Ma & XinQi Dong, 2023. "Variations in racial and ethnic groups’ trust in researchers associated with willingness to participate in research," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Stephen Amoah & Ruth Ennin & Karen Sagoe & Astrid Steinbrecher & Tobias Pischon & Frank P. Mockenhaupt & Ina Danquah, 2021. "Feasibility of a Culturally Adapted Dietary Weight-Loss Intervention among Ghanaian Migrants in Berlin, Germany: The ADAPT Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-13, January.
    12. Yichen Zhong & Amy H. Auchincloss & Brian K. Lee & Ryan M. McKenna & Brent A. Langellier, 2020. "Sugar-Sweetened and Diet Beverage Consumption in Philadelphia One Year after the Beverage Tax," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-12, February.
    13. Margarita Echeverri & David Anderson & Anna María Nápoles & Jacqueline M. Haas & Marc E. Johnson & Friar Sergio A. Serrano, 2018. "Cancer Health Literacy and Willingness to Participate in Cancer Research and Donate Bio-Specimens," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, September.
    14. Olivia A. Wackowski & Jennah M. Sontag & David Hammond & Richard J. O’Connor & Pamela A. Ohman-Strickland & Andrew A. Strasser & Andrea C. Villanti & Cristine D. Delnevo, 2019. "The Impact of E-Cigarette Warnings, Warning Themes and Inclusion of Relative Harm Statements on Young Adults’ E-Cigarette Perceptions and Use Intentions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
    15. Jones-Smith, Jessica C. & Knox, Melissa A. & Coe, Norma B. & Walkinshaw, Lina P. & Schoof, John & Hamilton, Deven & Hurvitz, Philip M. & Krieger, James, 2022. "Sweetened beverage taxes: Economic benefits and costs according to household income," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    16. Cengiz, Ezgi & Cengiz, Doruk, 2020. "The Impacts of Soda Taxes in U.S. Localities," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304351, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    17. Otilia Vanessa Cordero-Ahiman & Jorge Leonardo Vanegas & Cecilia Alexandra Fernández-Lucero & Daniela Fernanda Torres-Torres & Víctor Dante Ayaviri-Nina & Gabith Miriam Quispe-Fernández, 2022. "Responsible Marketing in the Traffic Light Labeling of Food Products in Ecuador: Perceptions of Cuenca Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-17, March.
    18. Hunt Allcott & Daniel Cohen & William Morrison & Dmitry Taubinsky, 2022. "When do "Nudges" Increase Welfare?," NBER Working Papers 30740, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    19. Wei Fu & Shin-Yi Chou & Li-San Wang, 2022. "NIH Grant Expansion, Ancestral Diversity and Scientific Discovery in Genomics Research," NBER Working Papers 30155, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    20. Brendon McConnell, 2023. "What's Logs Got to do With it: On the Perils of log Dependent Variables and Difference-in-Differences," Papers 2308.00167, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2023.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8764-:d:617737. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.