Healthy Vending in Hospitals
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Healthy Vending in Hospitals
IRAS ID
231390
Contact name
Melda Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In 2008 the CMO issued a directive stating that vending machines in hospitals should stock only healthy products and display only health promoting material. This study will assess the economic cost of the directive and investigate ways of encouraging healthy eating in hospitals. \n\nThis study has the following aims (i) to establish whether healthy vending can be made as profitable as unhealthy vending, (ii) to test whether promotional material is effective at promoting consumption of healthy products (iii) whether the profitability of healthy vending depends on the proximity of vending machines to other food outlets. To achieve these aims we will manipulate the content, pricing, promotional material, and positioning of the hospital vending machines experimentally. For example, vending machines will be stocked with healthy or unhealthy products on alternate weeks, and sales data will be used to assess the profitability of healthy products relative to unhealthy products across conditions.\n\nThe study forms the basis of a PhD in Experimental Psychology, with Melda Lois Griffiths (Chief Investigator) as the PhD candidate, Dr Lewis Bott and Prof Jacky Boivin as academic supervisors, and Eryl Powell, Consultant in Public Health, ABUHB, as the public health advisor. The study is funded by the ESRC, the School of Psychology Cardiff University, and ABUHB.\n\nThe study will last no longer than three years and will take place in hospitals within ABUHB. Participants will be visitors, patients and staff at ABUHB. There will be no exclusions.\n\n
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0287
Date of REC Opinion
29 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion