Premium
Impact and acceptance of a state‐wide policy to remove sugar‐sweetened beverages in hospitals in New South Wales, Australia
Author(s) -
Cranney Leonie,
Drayton Bradley,
Thomas Margaret,
Tang Beatrice,
O’Connell Tarli,
Crino Michelle,
Cobcroft Megan,
Chau Josephine,
Bauman Adrian,
Phongsavan Philayrath
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1002/hpja.390
Subject(s) - environmental health , medicine , audit , public health , visitor pattern , business , nursing , accounting , computer science , programming language
Issue addressed Policy and environmental approaches can reduce the accessibility and purchasing of sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs), potentially reducing overweight and obesity. This study examined the impact of a state‐wide policy on removal of SSBs from sale in NSW public hospitals (launched July 2017), and explored consumer awareness and support. Methods A convenience sample of 81 food outlets in 26 hospitals were audited for SSB availability before and after the target date for SSB removal (31 December 2017). An interviewer‐administered intercept survey in 10 randomly selected hospitals (March‐May 2018), assessed staff and visitors’ awareness of and support for SSB removal. Descriptive and χ 2 analyses assessed differences in: SSB availability; staff and visitor awareness and support. Open‐ended survey responses were thematically analysed. Results The proportion of outlets that removed SSBs increased from 58.0% to 96.3% ( P < .001). The majority (79.5%) of the 2394 surveyed supported SSB removal, with nearly half (48.4%) reporting it would improve people's health. A minority (13.4%) did not support SSB removal, more than half (61.4%) of those said individuals should have free choice. More staff than visitors were aware of the change (61.9% vs 31.2%; P < .0001). Conclusions Availability of SSBs in NSW hospitals was significantly reduced after implementation of a policy to remove them from sale. There was strong staff and visitor support for the initiative. So what? This study provides clear evidence that a policy designed to provide a healthy hospital retail drink environment can be successfully implemented at scale with high levels of support from staff and visitors. Summary A state‐wide policy initiative to remove SSBs from sale in NSW hospital food outlets in 2017 was successfully implemented, with a sample of outlets having nearly 100% compliance. The majority of staff and visitors (80%) supported the removal of SSBs, mostly because they believed it would improve individual and population health.