Abstract
BackgroundTo improve the availability and accessibility of healthier food and drinks in schools, sports and worksites canteens, national Guidelines for Healthier Canteens were developed by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Until now, no tool was available to monitor implementation of these guidelines. This study developed and assessed the content validity and usability of an online tool (the ‘Canteen Scan’) that provides insight into and directions for improvement of healthier food products in canteens.MethodsThe Canteen Scan was developed using a three-step iterative process. First, preliminary measures and items to evaluate adherence to the guidelines were developed based on literature, and on discussions and pre-tests with end-users and experts from science, policy and practice. Second, content validity of a paper version of the Canteen Scan was assessed among five end-users. Third, the online Canteen Scan was pilot tested among end-users representing school canteens. Usability was measured by comprehensibility, user-friendliness, feasibility, time investment, and satisfaction.ResultsThe content validity of the Canteen Scan was ensured by reaching agreement between stakeholders representing science, policy and practice. The scan consists of five elements: 1) basic conditions (e.g. encouragement to drink water and availability of policy regarding the guidelines), 2) product availability offered on displays (counter, shelf) and 3) in vending machines, 4) product accessibility (e.g. promotion and placement of products), and 5) an overall score based on the former elements and tailored feedback for creating a healthier canteen. The scan automatically classifies products into healthier or less healthy products. Pilot tests indicated good usability of the tool, with mean scores of 4.0–4.6 (5-point Likert scale) on the concepts comprehensibility, user-friendliness and feasibility.ConclusionThe Canteen Scan provides insight into the extent to which canteens meet the Dutch Guidelines for Healthier Canteens. It also provides tailored feedback to support adjustments towards a healthier canteen and with the scan changes over time can be monitored. Pilot tests show this tool to be usable in practice.
Highlights
To improve the availability and accessibility of healthier food and drinks in schools, sports and worksites canteens, national Guidelines for Healthier Canteens were developed by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre
In the Guidelines for Healthier Canteens, healthier products are defined as foods that are included in the Wheel of Five such as whole wheat bread, fruits and vegetables, semi-skimmed milk, and low fat cheese, and small portions of less healthy foods with limited calories, saturated and trans-fat, sodium and added sugar [33, 34]
Experts agreed to count each number of products on display, and to count each facing for vending machines. They recommended using the school canteen as priority setting during the development, due to the differences between the school, sport and worksites settings
Summary
To improve the availability and accessibility of healthier food and drinks in schools, sports and worksites canteens, national Guidelines for Healthier Canteens were developed by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Public food settings have tended to increase the offer (availability), placement and promotion (accessibility) of unhealthy calorie-dense food and beverages [7]. These changes encourage people to consume these foods and drinks more frequently [8,9,10,11]. It is important to change the unhealthy food environment into one that helps individuals to make healthier food choices [12]
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