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A Multi-Pronged Evaluation of a Healthy Food Access Initiative in Central Texas: Study Design, Methods, and Baseline Findings of the FRESH-Austin Evaluation Study

Author

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  • Kathryn M. Janda

    (UTHealth School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, USA
    Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin, TX 78701, USA)

  • Nalini Ranjit

    (UTHealth School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, USA
    Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin, TX 78701, USA)

  • Deborah Salvo

    (Prevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA)

  • Aida Nielsen

    (UTHealth School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, USA
    Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin, TX 78701, USA)

  • Nika Akhavan

    (UTHealth School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, USA
    Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin, TX 78701, USA)

  • Martha Diaz

    (UTHealth School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, USA
    Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin, TX 78701, USA)

  • Pablo Lemoine

    (Centro Nacional de Consultoría, Bogotá 110221, Colombia)

  • Joy Casnovsky

    (Sustainable Food Center, Austin, TX 78702, USA)

  • Alexandra van den Berg

    (UTHealth School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, USA
    Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin, TX 78701, USA)

Abstract

Food insecurity and limited healthy food access are complex public health issues and warrant multi-level evaluations. The purpose of this paper was to present the overall study design and baseline results of the multi-pronged evaluation of a healthy food access (i.e., Fresh for Less (FFL)) initiative in Central Texas. The 2018–2021 FRESH-Austin study was a natural experiment that utilized a cluster random sampling strategy to recruit three groups of participants (total n = 400): (1) customers at FFL assets, (2) residents that lived within 1.5 miles of an FFL asset, and (3) residents from a comparison community. Evaluation measures included annual cohort surveys, accelerometers and GPS devices, store-level audits, and built environment assessments. Data are being used to inform and validate an agent-based model (ABM) to predict food shopping and consumption behaviors. Sociodemographic factors and food shopping and consumption behaviors were similar across the three groups; however, customers recruited at FFL assets were lower income and had a higher prevalence of food insecurity. The baseline findings demonstrate the need for multi-level food access interventions, such as FFL, in low-income communities. In the future, ABM can be used as a cost-effective way to determine potential impacts of future large-scale food environment programs and policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathryn M. Janda & Nalini Ranjit & Deborah Salvo & Aida Nielsen & Nika Akhavan & Martha Diaz & Pablo Lemoine & Joy Casnovsky & Alexandra van den Berg, 2021. "A Multi-Pronged Evaluation of a Healthy Food Access Initiative in Central Texas: Study Design, Methods, and Baseline Findings of the FRESH-Austin Evaluation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10834-:d:656982
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Makelarski, J.A. & Abramsohn, E. & Benjamin, J.H. & Du, S. & Lindau, S.T., 2017. "Diagnostic accuracy of two food insecurity screeners recommended for use in health care settings," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(11), pages 1812-1817.
    2. Per Pinstrup-Andersen, 2009. "Food security: definition and measurement," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 1(1), pages 5-7, February.
    3. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2017.304033_5 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Yuzi Zhang & Kathryn M. Janda & Nalini Ranjit & Deborah Salvo & Aida Nielsen & Alexandra van den Berg, 2022. "Change in Depression and Its Determinants during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Examination among Racially/Ethnically Diverse US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Kathryn M. Janda & Nalini Ranjit & Deborah Salvo & Deanna M. Hoelscher & Aida Nielsen & Joy Casnovsky & Alexandra van den Berg, 2022. "Examining Geographic Food Access, Food Insecurity, and Urbanicity among Diverse, Low-Income Participants in Austin, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Sarah A. Misyak & Molly K. Parker & Meredith Ledlie Johnson & Sam Hedges & Elizabeth Borst & Maureen McNamara Best & Valisa E. Hedrick, 2022. "A Preliminary Evaluation of Virginia Fresh Match: Impacts and Demographic Considerations for Future Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Programs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-9, April.

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