Resourcefulness, Desperation, Shame, Gratitude and Powerlessness : Common Themes Emerging from A Study of Food Bank Use in Northeast Scotland

Acknowledgements This study received funding support from the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS), Theme 7 ‘Healthy Safe Diets’ Research Programmed. The authors would also like to thank and acknowledge the invaluable support and time given by Fiona Rae and Dave Simmers, the Community Food Initiative North East food bank volunteers and study participants. The authors would also like to thank Professor Elizabeth Dowler and Dr Lucia d’Ambruoso, and the anonymous peer reviewers for their helpful comments during the preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Understanding perceived determinants of nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour : A theory-informed qualitative interview study

We thank Eilidh Duncan and Maria Prior for help with designing the interview topic guide. We would also like to thank all the nurses who gave their time to participate in the pilot study of the interview topic guide and the qualitative interviews. The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates. The views expressed are those of the authors alone. Funding This work was funded through a Medical Research Council doctoral training award.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Seafood inclusion ion early years' feeding : a comparison of commercial products to home-cooking

Background and Aims Under-exposure to seafood during early years feeding, when taste and food acceptance is developed, may impact on the future development of a healthy diet. The aim of this study was to investigate the inclusion of seafood in commercial baby food products and baby and toddler cookbooks, and the occurrence of beneficiary and cautionary information on seafood in the cookbooks. Methods A survey was conducted of all commercial pre-prepared baby food main-meal products in Scotland from September-December 2012. The primary food type within each product, (vegetables, poultry, meat, and seafood), nutritional composition, and ingredient contribution were collected. A survey of Amazon’s top 20 best-selling baby and toddler cookbooks was conducted in June 2013. The types and varieties of the different food types cited in addition to recipes, beneficiary claims and cautionary information was recorded. Results Seafood (n=13 (3.8%)) was significantly underrepresented as a main-meal product compared to poultry (103 (30.2%)), meat (121 (35.5%)) and vegetables (104 (30.5%)). Similarly, seafood-based main-meal recipes were significantly lower than vegetable recipes however were not significantly different to poultry and meat recipes. Cautionary claims in the cookbooks were significantly higher for seafood than other food types. Conclusions Parents who predominantly wean their infant using commercial products are may face challenges in sourcing a suitable range of products to enable the inclusion of seafood. Parents who predominantly home-cook have greater exposure to seafood in recipes however, this may be counteracted by the prominence of negative seafood messages, deterring them from including this healthful food into the diet of their infant.Publisher PDFNon peer reviewe

Evidence of complex involvement of serotonergic genes with restrictive and binge purge subtypes of anorexia nervosa

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Development of a behaviour change workplace-based intervention to improve nurses’ eating and physical activity

Acknowledgements We would like to thank all the nurses who gave their time to participate in the workplace intervention development steps. The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates. The views expressed are those of the authors alone. Funding This work was funded through a Medical Research Council doctoral training award.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evidencing the impacts of health research: Insights from trials reported in the 2018 Australian Engagement and Impact Assessment

Issue Addressed: While definitions of impact may vary, they often refer to the wider benefits of research evidenced beyond academia. We evaluated case studies featuring randomised trials from the 2018 Engagement and Impact Assessment to better understand how the impacts of health research are evidenced and assessed within Australia. Methods: We collated and evaluated ‘high’ scoring case studies submitted by higher education institutions with a focus on randomised trials across all areas of health research. A qualitative coding system was used for manual content analysis to assess the key characteristics of trials reported, subsequent impacts and the methods used to evidence impacts. Results: A total of 14 case studies were identified citing 35 clinical trials. The majority of interventions were behavioural with a focus on mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders. Most trials were phase III, focused on the treatment of the indication and were funded by industry. Contribution to clinical guidelines was the highest cited research impact. While there was evidence of researchers seeking to maximise trial impact, case studies lacked details on the role of trial participants and other beneficiaries in generating impact. Conclusions: The impacts of health research can be improved through a better understanding of the priorities and agendas of funders, providing evidence of tangible impact rather than information that is contextual or predictive, and through the early development of impact strategies involving both researchers and beneficiaries. So What? Large-scale impact exercises intended for a broad range of disciplines may not be reflective of the depth and scope of health sciences research including trials

Maternal feeding behaviour and young children's dietary quality: A cross-sectional study of socially disadvantaged mothers of two-year old children using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Background: Having breakfast, eating food 'cooked from scratch' and eating together as a family have health and psychosocial benefits for young children. This study investigates how these parentally determined behaviours relate to children's dietary quality and uses a psychological model, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), to investigate socio-cognitive predictors of these behaviours in socially disadvantaged mothers of young children in Scotland. Method: Three hundred mothers of children aged 2 years (from 372 invited to participate, 81% response rate), recruited via General Practitioners, took part in home-based semi-structured interviews in a cross-sectional survey of maternal psychological factors related to their children's dietary quality. Regression analyses examined statistical predictors of maternal intentions and feeding behaviours. Results: Mothers of children with poorer quality diets were less likely than others to provide breakfast every day, cook from 'scratch' and provide 'proper sit-down meals'. TPB socio-cognitive factors (intentions, perceived behavioural control) significantly predicted these three behaviours, and attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioural control significantly predicted mothers' intentions, with medium to large effect sizes. Conclusions: Interventions to improve young children's dietary health could benefit from a focus on modifying maternal motivations and attitudes in attempts to improve feeding behaviours

How important are the influencing factors to the decision on whether to provide seafood in infant and young child feeding?

Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the mothers who volunteered to take part in the Q sort interviews. Sources of funding This study was funded by the Seafish Authority and Interface Food and Drink Scotland as part of a PhD scholarship for SC.Peer reviewedPostprin