Oral Presentation ANZOS-Breakthrough Discoveries Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

Reporting on key nutrition indicators as a decision support tool to improve diet quality in remote Indigenous Australian communities (#29)

Emma McMahon 1 , Megan Ferguson 1 , Anthony Gunther 1 , Tom Wycherley 1 2 , Julie Brimblecombe 1 3
  1. Menzies School of Health Research, Brinkin, NT, Australia
  2. University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Austraila
  3. Monash University, Notting Hll, Victoria, Australia

Introduction: Most food consumed in remote Indigenous Australian communities is purchased at the local store that in many instances belongs to the community and is governed by community representatives (store directors).1 These community representatives and remote retailers are therefore key decision makers to optimise stores to support healthier eating and reduce obesity and preventable chronic disease. Reports tracking diet quality indicators can be a powerful decision-support tool for supporting this process.2 Aim: We aimed to develop timely, accessible, easy to interpret and evidence-informed reports (FoodFox reports) on indicators of community-level diet quality. Methods: To inform report development we examined best evidence, consulted with Indigenous Australian store directors in 3 communities and collected 18 months of sales data from 31 stores across the Northern Territory, Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait. Reports were made available to participating stores and follow-up interviews occurred with store managers to inform future implementation. Outcomes: Consultation with Indigenous Australia community representatives (store directors) indicated that they were eager to receive reports to inform their decision-making and that they saw the reports as having potential value in optimising stores to support healthier food and drink choices. They also provided specific feedback regarding cultural relevance of language and data visuals which was used to refine the reports. The resulting reports show key food indicators tracked longitudinally and benchmarked against dietary guideline targets, store goals and the average of participating stores. The indicators (6 food groups and 40 subgroups) and categorisation (Best Choices, Less Healthy Choices and Unhealthy Choices) align with Australian Dietary Guidelines. Store manager interviews identified several potential barriers and enablers to consistent and effective report dissemination and uptake. Conclusion: These reports have potential as a decision support tool to improve diet quality and reduce obesity and chronic disease risk in remote Indigenous Australian communities.

  1. Wycherley T, Ferguson M, O'Dea K, McMahon E, Liberato S, Brimblecombe J. Aust N Z J Public Health 2016; 40(6):569-71.
  2. Brimblecombe J, Bailie R, van den Boogaard C, et al. SSM Popul Health 2017; 3:566-76.