Nutrition Labeling Program to Promote Healthy Dietary Patterns

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to evaluate a nutrition labelling program in improving university canteen customers' dietary pattern and behavioural determinants (e.g. knowledge).

Detailed Description
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The increase in diet related diseases worldwide is considered to be primarily caused by a changing environment encouraging high energy intakes and a sedentary lifestyle. Examples of important environmental factors are the changing nature of the food supply, the changing socio-demographic structure of the population, the lack of nutrition information and the increasing reliance on foods consumed away from home. This evolution has driven the development of measures to encourage more healthy eating patterns. Nutrition labelling is one of those measures. Since adults and students spend approximately half their waking hours at the workplace or university, the work or study environment is believed to be an appropriate setting to assess and try to change individuals' dietary behaviour. This study aims to evaluate a nutrition labelling program in improving university canteen customers' dietary pattern and behavioural determinants (e.g. knowledge).

Official Title
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A University Canteen-based Labeling Program to Promote Healthy Dietary Patterns

Conditions
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Nutrition, Diet

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: nutrition label


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: university students and staff frequent university canteen customers willing to participate Exclusion Criteria: non-frequent university canteen customers

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: implemented nutrition label<br>A one-group pre-/post-design is used for the evaluation of the university canteen-based nutrition labeling program. This means that all participants of the program are exposed to the nutrition label implemented in the university canteen. The subject essentially serves as its own control based on pre-test behaviour. The nutrition label implemented is a star rating label calculated and assigned to each meal offered at the university canteens and based on the content of energy, saturated fat, sodium and fibre (expressed as vegetable portion). | Other: nutrition label<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pre-label behavioural determinants of nutrition | Behavioural determinants of nutrition by means of quantitative questionnaire at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month). | at 1 month | 
| pre-label nutrition information processing characteristics | Nutrition information processing by means of quantitative questionnaire at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month). | at 1 month | 
| post-label behavioural determinants of nutrition | Behavioural determinants of nutrition by means of quantitative questionnaire at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months). | at 6 months | 
| post-label nutrition information processing characteristics | Nutrition information processing by means of quantitative questionnaire at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months). | at 6 months | 
| pre-label food intake records | Food intake by 3-day food records at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month). | at 1 month | 
| post-label food intake records | Food intake by 3-day food records at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months). | at 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| socio-demographic questionnaire | Socio-demographical questionnaire at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month). | at 1 month | 
| pre-label physical activity registration | Physical activity by 3-day physical activity registrations at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month). | at 1 month | 
| post-label physical activity registration | Physical activity by 3-day physical activity registrations at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months). | at 6 months |