Towards healthy food retail: An assessment of public health nutrition workforce capacity to work with stores

Abstract

Objective: This article aims to investigate the capacity of nutrition professionals to engage in food retail practice change to improve population diet. Methods: Convergent mixed method design was used that includes pre-interview surveys, in-depth interviews, and retrospective mapping of service provision. The study was conducted in organisations that provide a nutrition professional service to food retail stores in remote Australia. The study participants include 11 nutrition professionals and eight organisation representatives, including managers, organisation directors and policy officers. Systems-mapping and thematic analysis of the in-depth interviews were conducted using a capacity development framework. Descriptive analysis was applied to pre-interview survey and mapping data. Results: A gap between the aspirational work and current capacity of nutrition professionals to engage effectively with stores was identified. Engagement with stores to improve population health was valued by organisations. Dominance of the medical health model limited organisation strategic support for store work and created barriers. Key barriers included the limited access to training, decision-support tools, information, financial resources and organisational structures that directed store work. Conclusions: Provision of adequate store-specific training, resources and organisational support may empower the nutrition professional workforce to be powerful leaders in co-design for healthy food retail. Implications for Public Health: Building capacity for this critical workforce to engage in food retail practice change must consider the influence of the broader health system and employer organisations and need for access to evidence-based decision-support tools.