None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This is a cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a tailored feedback intervention as embedded within an online canteen lunch ordering system. The intervention is intended to encourage the purchase of healthier menu items. The trial will recruit 10 NSW government primary schools which already have an online canteen ordering system through which lunch orders for students can be placed. The primary trial outcomes are the average proportion of “Everyday” and “Caution” foods (as classified by the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy). Intervention effectiveness is assessed through analysis of the lunch order purchasing data that is automatically collected by the online ordering system.
Interventions
Feedback (to parents and students):
i)Feedback to parents and students: Prior to each lunch order being confirmed within the online ordering system, Users will be shown a pie-chart displaying the proportion of ‘Everyday’ (definition: Foods to eat everyday), ‘Occasional' (definition: foods to eat sometimes an din small amounts) and ‘Caution – consider switching’ (definition: foods should not be sold in the canteen) items contained within the lunch order. Users will be able to change their order a
Feedback (to parents and students): i)Feedback to parents and students: Prior to each lunch order being confirmed within the online ordering system, Users will be shown a pie-chart displaying the proportion of ‘Everyday’ (definition: Foods to eat everyday), ‘Occasional' (definition: foods to eat sometimes an din small amounts) and ‘Caution – consider switching’ (definition: foods should not be sold in the canteen) items contained within the lunch order. Users will be able to change their order at this point, and the graph will update to reflect the new order. Furthermore, a tailored message will also appear underneath the pie-chat: i.100% Everyday: 100% ‘Everyday’ items - Excellent Choice! ii.50-99% Everyday: At least half of your order is ‘Everyday’ items - Nice Choice iii.0-49% Everyday: Try adding some ‘Everyday’ items for a more balanced meal The category definitions and the classification of foods and drinks into these categories was determined by the current state canteen guidelines "The NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy - Food and drink Criteria'. Mode of delivery: All users (i.e. parents and students) of an online canteen at participating schools will be exposed to the intervention strategies that will be integrated into the school’s existing online canteen ordering system. Online canteen ordering systems allow users (students or a parent on behalf of a student) to login to a website to access the school’s canteen menu. Users are able to select and pay for food and drink items, which are processed by the canteen and supplied to students during their lunch break. Who will deliver the intervention: The online canteen provider will modify the display of the online ordering system to incorporate the ‘Pie Graph’ (Tailored feedback intervention (in a random 50% of participating schools). Intervention delivery schedule: All schools will undergo a 5-week baseline period and a 5-week intervention period. Intervention Fidelity: A research assistant will monitor the application of the strategies on each school’s online menu via the website of the online canteen provider.
Sponsors
Dr Rebecca Wyse
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
5 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. NSW Government primary schools which are currently using an online canteen ordering system provided by Flexischools. 2. All primary school students who have at least one online lunch orders placed during the data collection periods within participating schools will be included
Exclusion criteria
Special purpose schools catering for student with special needs (e.g. juvenile justice or schools serving hospitalised children) will be excluded due to potential differences in the provision of foods in these settings. Any schools participating in the long term follow-up of another online canteen research trial being conducted by the research team.
Outcome results
None listed