Table 1 Characteristics of trials

Aim

To assess the impact of an audit and feedback intervention on improving rural and remote schools’ compliance with the NSW Healthy School Canteen Policy.

To assess the effectiveness of a theoretically designed multi-strategy intervention in increasing the implementation of a healthy canteen policy in Australian primary schools.

To assess the effectiveness of a multi-strategy intervention to improve the implementation of nutrition guidelines in childcare services.

Design

Randomised controlled trial

Randomised controlled trial

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention

Main intervention component was menu audit, and subsequent provision of feedback via a written report and telephone call up to 4 times over a 12-month period.

Multi-component intervention conducted over a 9-month period, including the following;

executive support, canteen manager/parent training, (5 h group training workshop) tools and resources, on-going support, performance monitoring and feedback (written canteen menu report), and recognition.

Intervention 1: provision of training and resources, menu planning checklists, recipe ideas and budgeting fact sheets, audit and feedback.

Intervention 2: provision of training and resources, menu planning checklists, recipe ideas and budgeting fact sheets, audit and feedback, ongoing support via support officer providing expert advice and assistance to facilitate guideline implementation. Each intervention service received two face-to-face contacts, following the menu planning workshop. The implementation support officer, the service manager and cook signed a memorandum of understanding which outlined each party’s responsibilities working to improve food service.

Control

Usual care––access to NSW Government programs directed at supporting school promotion of healthy eating and physical activity.

Usual care––access to NSW Government programs directed at supporting school promotion of healthy eating and physical activity.

Usual care and hard copy of the Caring for Children resource.

Primary outcome

(i) The proportion of schools with a canteen menu that did not include red or banned foods and beverages and (ii) the proportion of schools where green items make up the majority of the menu defined as more than 50% of listed menu items.

(i) The proportion of schools with a canteen menu that did not include red or banned foods and beverages and (ii) the proportion of schools where green items make up the majority of the menu defined as more than 50% of listed menu items.

Compliance with guideline recommendations, defined as one that provides 50% of the recommended daily serves of each of the Australian Dietary Guidelines five food groups: (1) vegetables and legumes/beans; (2) fruit; (3) wholegrain cereal foods and breads; (4) lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, seeds and legumes; (5) milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives).