Abstract
Objective: To examine the effect of health-enabling changes on supermarket healthiness, the distribution and variation of scores were used to demonstrate this within the participant supermarkets.
Methods: The Scout App (SS-App) was used to assess the healthiness of supermarkets at baseline vs follow-up in 10 supermarkets (5-implementation, 5-control). The Reach for the Stars program included promotional and informational materials based on the health star rating of healthier products. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the effects of time group (implementation vs. control) and their interaction on overall mean SS-App scores within the study arm.
Results: SS-App scores improved from pre- to post-implementation (p<0.01). A larger increase in SS-App scores was observed in the implementation group (M = 8.7, SD = 3.7) compared to the control group (M = 1.4, SD = 6.1), t(8) = -2.28, p <0.05).
Conclusions: The SS-App was key in implementing the program by ensuring stores aligned with its goals and objectives, supporting and enhancing retailer participation and sustained engagement.
Implications for Public Health: Community public health practitioners need user-friendly tools to collect real-time data, engage with local food retailers, and customise health initiatives in supermarkets. These technologies can optimise resource allocation and improve outreach.