Development and testing of an evidence-based tool to support adoption and implementation of the National Healthy Food and Drink Policy

Background: In 2016, a voluntary National Healthy Food and Drink Policy was released to improve the healthiness of food and drinks for staff and visitors in New Zealand health sector organisations. However, there were no resources developed to support policy implementation. Aim: To develop evidence-based tool(s) to support implementation of the National Healthy Food and Drink Policy. Methods: This mixed methods research included four major components. First, a systematic literature review thematically synthesised evidence on barriers and facilitators to healthy food policy implementation in public sector workplaces. Second, a scoping review of grey literature identified and evaluated relevant existing supportive tools. Third, semi-structured interviews were undertaken to determine the experiences of policy implementers in New Zealand. Finally, findings from this earlier work informed the co-design of a new web-based tool, which was subsequently user-tested through interactive interviews. Additional stakeholder interviews were used to identify potential ongoing funding sources for the new tool. Findings: The review of 41 international studies found that barriers and facilitators to implementation fell into five broad categories: financial ramifications, healthier product availability, existence of supporting resources, institutional leadership support, and stakeholder communication. Twenty-six existing supportive tools were found, with a mean ‘usability and quality’ score of 4.0/5.0, although none was sufficiently comprehensive to support implementation of the National Policy. Interviews with 12 New Zealand stakeholders identified that the voluntary nature of the National Policy and unhealthy food outlets located close to hospitals were key barriers to implementation, whilst greater central government support and funding (including for supportive tools) were potential facilitators. A new tool, Healthy Kai (Food) Checker, a searchable web-based prototype packaged food and drink product database, was co–designed to support implementation of the National Policy. User testing further improved the prototype tool’s usability, and some potential funding sources were identified for future maintenance of the tool. Conclusions: Understanding common barriers and facilitators, and provision of evidence-based tools, is essential for successful implementation of healthy food and drink policies. Adoption of a mandatory policy, alongside national and local leadership and resourcing could positively impact health sector food environments in New Zealand.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Population Health

Grantor dc:publisher

ResearchSpace@Auckland

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Rosin, Magda Teresa

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Ni Mhurchu, Cliona
• Mackay, Sally

Statement dc:rights

• Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2292/69768

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchspace.auckland.ac.nz:2292/69768