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“Bread: It's a Great Way to Go”: Increasing bread consumption decreases laxative sales in an elderly community
Author(s) -
Egger Garry,
Wolfenden Kevin,
Pares Julia,
Mowbray Greg
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1991.tb94047.x
Subject(s) - consumption (sociology) , laxative , medicine , population , psychological intervention , environmental health , gerontology , nursing , sociology , surgery , social science , constipation
Objective: To test the effects on laxative sates of two methods of promoting increased consumption of wholemeal/wholegrain bread by the elderly. Design: Community intervention trials were carried out in two test communities and one control community on the mid‐north coast of New South Wales. Participants: Small retirement communities with a high proportion of the population aged over 55 years. Interventions: A community organisation strategy (COS) involving the media, community activities and social marketing principles using the theme “Bread: It's a Great Way to Go” was compared with a patient education strategy (PES) through local doctors and a control community (CON). Main outcome measures: Wholemeal/ wholegrain bread sales and laxative sales. Results: There was a 49% decrease in laxative sales corresponding to a 58% increase in sales of wholemeal/wholegrain bread in the COS community but no significant changes in either the PES or CON communities. Conclusions: The study suggests a positive, cost effective approach for increasing fibre intake and improving gastrointestinal problems in the elderly.