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Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and... Nov 2022Marketing strategies for sweetened beverages (SBs) are pervasive across food retail. Yet few studies have examined how these strategies associate with planned and... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Marketing strategies for sweetened beverages (SBs) are pervasive across food retail. Yet few studies have examined how these strategies associate with planned and unplanned SB purchasing.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine whether customers with greater exposure to SB retail marketing (eg, advertisements and product placement) were more likely to purchase an SB and whether this varied by customer characteristics.
DESIGN
This was an observational, cross-sectional study using objective customer purchasing and store assessment data from convenience and other small food stores.
PARTICIPANTS/SETTING
Participants were 1,604 food and beverage customers at 144 randomly sampled convenience and other small food stores in Minneapolis-St Paul, MN.
EXPOSURE
Marketing strategies, including SB advertisements, placement, and shelf space were included.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
We determined the probability of customers purchasing ≥4 fluid ounces of a ready-to-drink sugar and/or artificially sweetened beverage.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED
Associations between marketing strategies and purchasing were estimated using mixed regression models, controlling for customer characteristics and accounting for customers nested within stores.
RESULTS
Fifty-six percent of customers purchased an SB; 14% also specified that it was an unplanned purchase. Customers were more likely to purchase an SB when exterior advertisements (P < .001) and advertisements hanging from the ceiling (P < .001) that promoted SBs were present. Customers with moderate and high cumulative exposure to SB marketing were significantly more likely to purchase SBs (51.2% and 54.9%, respectively) than those with lower exposure (34%); this effect was particularly salient for men. There were no significant associations between retail marketing strategies and unplanned purchases.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings demonstrate that feasible and sustainable approaches are required from policy makers, retailers, and public health professionals to shift store environments away from cues that promote unhealthy beverage selections. Given that numerous retail actors are invested in the availability, promotion, and sales of SBs, changing the predominance of SB marketing in convenience stores will likely be challenging and require cross-sector collaboration.
Topics: Male; Humans; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Sweetening Agents; Consumer Behavior; Beverages; Commerce; Food Supply; Marketing; Sugars
PubMed: 35240342
DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2022.02.017 -
Cureus Mar 2020Widespread, non-stop, and often sensational coverage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has caught many governments flat-footed in efforts to protect the health and safety of...
Widespread, non-stop, and often sensational coverage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has caught many governments flat-footed in efforts to protect the health and safety of their citizens. In response to the current global health event, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Mass gatherings present a historic challenge in protecting the health and safety of attendees. The majority of the prominent mass gatherings are religious in nature. Global sporting events, such as the Olympics and the World Cup, pose unique health risks to attendees and host nations. Deferment or cancellation of such mass gatherings may exert an extraordinary economic loss to the host nation. Universal adoption of best practices for infection control is the surest way for governments to prepare for mass gatherings. In these uncertain times, it is up to intergovernmental organizations to be the voice of reason.
PubMed: 32211279
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.7345 -
JAMA Dermatology Mar 2022
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Humans; Psoriasis
PubMed: 35044422
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.4723 -
JTCVS Techniques Apr 2021
PubMed: 34318142
DOI: 10.1016/j.xjtc.2021.01.015 -
Cureus Aug 2021Disorders of skin hyperpigmentation have an appreciable impact on quality of life, carrying social and cultural importance that influences widespread consumer demand for...
Disorders of skin hyperpigmentation have an appreciable impact on quality of life, carrying social and cultural importance that influences widespread consumer demand for cosmetic lightening products. We sought to investigate product factors that may influence consumer preference when choosing an over-the-counter cream for skin-lightening purposes. The keyword "lightening cream" was searched in the "Beauty and Personal Care category" of online retailer Amazon.com. The top fifth percentile of products was determined by filtering the search results for a minimum of four out of five stars from customer reviews, and then further filtered by products with over 100 reviews. Number of reviews, rating, price per unit, vehicle, application instructions, ingredients, and review attributes were evaluated. Over 2,900 products were catalogued as "lightening cream" on Amazon.com. There were 40 products rated >4 stars and >100 reviews, constituting the top 1.34% of entries. Tocopheryl was present in 58% of the top 40 products, ascorbic acid in 40%, and niacinamide in 20%. Notably, 22.5% of the top 40 products contained no known skin-lightening ingredient. There was a moderate positive correlation (R=0.378) between price and consumer rating, with kojic acid being the most expensive per ounce ($24.89) and salicylic acid being the most highly rated (4.54 stars; $15.00/oz). This study provides insight on the factors influencing the choice, preferences, and satisfaction of consumer that sought Amazon for the purchase of lightening products.
PubMed: 34540471
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17245 -
Cureus Oct 2023Background In the field of aesthetic dermatology, there is currently very little data on affordability and cost analysis regarding cosmeceuticals as more demand from...
Background In the field of aesthetic dermatology, there is currently very little data on affordability and cost analysis regarding cosmeceuticals as more demand from patients showing interest in cosmeceutical products to reduce and prevent aging continues to grow. Photoaging, a form of extrinsic aging from sun exposure, can be ameliorated by applying sunscreen and retinol products. Topical ascorbic acid and niacinamide have been shown to target the oxidative stress process that contributes to photoaging. These four products have been identified as the cosmeceutical ingredients with the most evidence-based data on photoaging prevention and treatment. Objective Given the demand for effective skin care, the paucity of data on cost differentiation, and the availability of cosmeceutical products, we analyzed the unit cost of four anti-aging products from major online and physical retailers in the United States. Such a cost comparison may facilitate more economically appropriate recommendations on skin care to consumers. Methods and materials We analyzed sunscreen, topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid), topical vitamin B3 (niacinamide), and topical vitamin A (retinol) products sold by four major United States retailers: Walmart, Ulta, Walgreens, and Amazon. The average cost in dollars per ounce (dollar/oz) was calculated for each product category at each retailer. Statistical analyses were done to determine statistical significance for each product category between retailers as well as between each category of product. Results Between the four retailers, Walmart offered the lowest cost per ounce for every product. In contrast, Amazon offered the highest cost per ounce for every product except for sunscreen. We also found that sunscreen products are less expensive per ounce as compared to retinol, ascorbic acid, and niacinamide products. Conclusion Dermatologists should be knowledgeable of product costs when providing patients with anti-aging product recommendations. Our study provides data on the financial cost by retail location of evidence-based anti-aging cosmeceuticals to better guide physicians in patient consulting and economical resource sharing.
PubMed: 37933373
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46596 -
Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic... Aug 2022
Topics: Humans; Mitral Valve
PubMed: 35976129
DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivac216 -
International Journal of Nursing Studies Feb 2021Older adults with dysphagia are at a higher risk of experiencing serious complications where dysphagia is not identified and adequately managed. Nursing personnel are... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Older adults with dysphagia are at a higher risk of experiencing serious complications where dysphagia is not identified and adequately managed. Nursing personnel are critical for timely identification and management of dysphagia and prevention of these subsequent serious complications in residential care settings.
OBJECTIVES
To identify dysphagia screening tools used in residential care and to establish whether validated and used as per guidelines, their diagnostic accuracy and reliability and to identify the prevalence rate of dysphagia in this setting.
DESIGN
A scoping review based on Arksey & O'Malley (2005) methodological framework.
DATA SOURCES
An electronic search of databases CINAHL, Pubmed and Scopus was conducted. Reference lists were checked in all identified articles for additional studies. Peer-reviewed publications describing the process of identifying dysphagia and using a screening protocol in residential care settings were considered for inclusion.
REVIEW METHODS
All identified studies were screened by reading of titles, keywords and abstracts. Those articles that were deemed eligible for inclusion were read in full.
RESULTS
Nineteen quantitative studies and one mixed-methods study out of 1,674 articles were included in the review. Thirteen different instruments for dysphagia screening were identified, with the Modified Water Swallow Test being the most commonly used. Other diagnostic procedures, such as fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, pulse oximetry or cervical auscultation, were implemented along with the administration of a dysphagia screening tool in six studies. The 3-Ounce Water Swallow Test, the Yale Swallow Protocol and the Gugging Swallowing Screen were identified as the instruments with the best clinical accuracy values. The reported prevalence of dysphagia in this setting ranged from 15% to 70%.
CONCLUSIONS
Formal dysphagia screening in residential care settings is not common practice. The dysphagia screening tools identified in this review are not validated for use in this setting. The implementation of dysphagia screening protocols specific to this population may facilitate identification of dysphagia and avoid complications.
Topics: Aged; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Mass Screening; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 33220569
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103813 -
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Jul 2015Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption through taxation is a promising public health response to the obesity epidemic in the U.S. This study quantifies the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption through taxation is a promising public health response to the obesity epidemic in the U.S. This study quantifies the expected health and economic benefits of a national sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax of $0.01/ounce over 10 years.
METHODS
A cohort model was used to simulate the impact of the tax on BMI. Assuming ongoing implementation and effect maintenance, quality-adjusted life-years gained and disability-adjusted life-years and healthcare costs averted were estimated over the 2015-2025 period for the 2015 U.S.
POPULATION
Costs and health gains were discounted at 3% annually. Data were analyzed in 2014.
RESULTS
Implementing the tax nationally would cost $51 million in the first year. The tax would reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption by 20% and mean BMI by 0.16 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]=0.06, 0.37) units among youth and 0.08 (95% UI=0.03, 0.20) units among adults in the second year for a cost of $3.16 (95% UI=$1.24, $8.14) per BMI unit reduced. From 2015 to 2025, the policy would avert 101,000 disability-adjusted life-years (95% UI=34,800, 249,000); gain 871,000 quality-adjusted life-years (95% UI=342,000, 2,030,000); and result in $23.6 billion (95% UI=$9.33 billion, $54.9 billion) in healthcare cost savings. The tax would generate $12.5 billion in annual revenue (95% UI=$8.92, billion, $14.1 billion).
CONCLUSIONS
The proposed tax could substantially reduce BMI and healthcare expenditures and increase healthy life expectancy. Concerns regarding the potentially regressive tax may be addressed by reduced obesity disparities and progressive earmarking of tax revenue for health promotion.
Topics: Beverages; Cohort Studies; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Health Care Costs; Humans; Obesity; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Sweetening Agents; Taxes; United States
PubMed: 26094232
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.03.004