A Point-of-Purchase Intervention Using Grocery Store Tour Podcasts About Omega-3s Increases Long-Term Purchases of Omega-3–Rich Food Items

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the impacts associated with a grocery store tour point-of-purchase intervention using podcasts about omega-3 fatty acid (n-3)-rich food items. DesignA repeated-measures secondary data analysis of food purchase records obtained from a convenience sample of shoppers’ loyalty cards. ParticipantsShoppers (n = 251) who had listened to podcasts regarding n-3–rich foods while shopping. Main Outcome Measure(s)The number of omega-3–rich food purchases made according to food or food category by participants determined via spreadsheets obtained from grocery store chain. AnalysisDescriptive statistics were performed on demographic characteristics. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess whether food purchases increased from 6 months before to 6 months after intervention. Correlations assessed the relationship between intentions to purchase n-3–rich foods expressed on the intervention day with actual long-term n-3–rich food purchases. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVAs and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to analyze differences between changes made and demographic variables (ie, participants’ gender, race, and education levels). ResultsMost shoppers (59%) increased n-3–rich food purchases, with significant mean purchase changes (t[172] = −6.9; P < .001; pre = 0.2 ± 0.7; post = 3.6 ± 5.1). Conclusions and ImplicationsPodcasts are promising nutrition education tools. Longer studies could assess whether lasting change results from podcast use.