Biomedical subjects

Diana Cassady

Publications and source records attributed to Diana Cassady.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The power of policy: a case study of healthy eating among children.

We used a case study approach to examine the nutritional effect of a policy to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in the Students Today Achieving Results for Tomorrow after-school program. The snack menu was changed in 44 after-school programs serving 8000 low-income and ethnically diverse elementary-school students. A comparison of previous and current snack menus identified a significant increase in fruit servings (83%) and no change in vegetable servings. We discuss the unintended consequences resulting from the menu changes.

Child↗

PubMed2006

Portrayals of branded soft drinks in popular American movies: a content analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the portrayals of soft drinks in popular American movies as a potential vehicle for global marketing and an indicator of covert product placement. METHODS: We conducted a content analysis of America's top-ten grossing films from 1991 through 2000 that included portrayals of beverages (95 movies total). Coding reliabilities were assessed with Cohen's kappa, and exceeded 0.80. If there was at least one instance of branding for a beverage, the film was considered having branded beverages. Fisher's exact test was used to determine if soft drink portrayals were related to audience rating or genre. Data on the amount of time soft drinks appeared onscreen was log transformed to satisfy the assumption of normality, and analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA model. McNemar's test of agreement was used to test whether branded soft drinks are as likely to appear or to be actor-endorsed compared to other branded beverages. RESULTS: Rating was not associated with portrayals of branded soft drinks, but comedies were most likely to include a branded soft drink (p = 0.0136). Branded soft drinks appeared more commonly than other branded non-alcoholic beverages (p = 0.0001), branded beer (p = 0.0004), and other branded alcoholic beverages (p = 0.0006). Actors consumed branded soft drinks in five times the number of movies compared to their consumption of other branded non-alcoholic beverages (p = 0.0126). About half the revenue from the films with portrayals of branded soft drinks come from film sales outside the U.S. CONCLUSION: The frequent appearance of branded soft drinks provides indirect evidence that product placement is a common practice for American-produced films shown in the U.S. and other countries.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Multilevel perspectives on diffusing a physical activity promotion program to reach diverse older adults.

Diffusing research-based physical activity programs in underserved communities could improve the health of ethnically diverse populations. We utilized a multilevel, community-based approach to determine attitudes, resources, needs, and barriers to physical activity and the potential diffusion of a physical activity promotion program to reach minority and lower-income older adults. Formative research using focus groups and individual interviews elicited feedback from multiple community sectors: community members, task force and coalition members, administrators, service implementers, health care providers, and physical activity instructors. Using qualitative data analysis, 47 transcripts (N = 197) were analyzed. Most sectors identified needs for culturally diverse resources, promotion of existing resources, demonstration of future cost savings, and culturally tailored, proactive outreach. The program was viewed favorably, especially if integrated into existing resources. Linking sectors to connect resources and expertise was considered essential. Complexities of such large-scale collaborations were identified. These results may guide communities interested in diffusing health promotion interventions.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Costs of occupational injury and illness across states.

The objective of this study was to estimate occupational injury and illness costs per worker across states. Analysis was conducted on injury data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and costs data from workers' compensation records. The following states were at the top of the list for average cost (cost per worker): West Virginia, Alaska, Wyoming, Kentucky, and Mississippi. The following states were at the bottom: South Carolina, Delaware, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The following variables (and signs on regression coefficients comparing this industry with manufacturing) were important in explaining the variation across states: employment in farming (+), agricultural service, forestry, fishing (+), mining (+), transportation and public utilities (+), wholesale trade (-), and finance, insurance, real estate (-). Southern and especially Western states were disproportionately represented in the high cost per worker list. A significant amount of the variation in cost per worker across states was explained by the composition of industries.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Doing well by doing good? A supermarket shuttle feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: Creating a more healthful food environment requires a new line of research that examines the impact of healthful changes on business's bottom line. This study investigates whether supermarket-sponsored shuttles can be self-supporting or make a profit in low-income urban areas. DESIGN: 2000 Census data were used to identify zip codes in California with low income, low vehicle ownership, and high population density to identify potential markets for shuttle programs. The breakeven point was calculated for a hypothetical shuttle program operating in these zip codes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Breakeven point in the number of months of shuttle operation. ANALYSIS: Breakeven analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-seven zip codes met the criteria for inclusion in the study. A supermarket shuttle program would break even in most zip codes if 10% of households without a car used the shuttle. If 15% used the shuttle, shuttle programs in all zip codes would make a profit. CONCLUSIONS: A shuttle program could be self-supporting in all 67 zip codes. IMPLICATIONS: Those interested in changing the food environment to support a healthful diet could use this information to share with supermarket executives and other key decision makers.

California↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Portrayals of food practices and exercise behavior in popular American films.

OBJECTIVE: To describe depictions of food, alcohol, and exercise and sport in popular films. DESIGN: Content analysis of the 10 top-grossing films each year from 1991 to 2000 (N = 100 films). ANALYSIS: Coding reliabilities were assessed with Cohen's kappa. Research questions were addressed with basic descriptive statistics. Associations among variables were examined through a cross-tabulation procedure that corrects for the clustering of exercise and food depictions within movies. RESULTS: Food and drink appeared regularly in the films analyzed, typically as a background element or prop. On average, food appeared on the screen once every 4.2 minutes. The foods shown were most likely to be fats, oils, and sweets; fruits, vegetables, and dairy products were rarely seen. More than 20% of the food items shown were alcoholic beverages, which were nearly 2 times more likely to be ingested as nonalcohol food items. Planned exercise and sports appeared at a rate of about 2 incidents per hour. These activities rarely received explicit evaluation by characters. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATION: Films frequently portray foods and exercise. These depictions have the potential to cultivate beliefs about normative eating and exercise behavior, suggesting a need for public health professionals to encourage the media to offer healthier images.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Measuring cues for healthy choices on restaurant menus: development and testing of a measurement instrument.

PURPOSE: To develop and test the Menu Checklist, an instrument to be used by community members to assess cues for healthy choices in restaurants. DESIGN: Menus from 14 restaurants were coded independently by two trained community reviewers to test the interrater reliability of the instrument. SETTING: A low-income, urban, African-American community in Los Angeles, California. SUBJECTS: Restaurants were selected based on community perceptions of their potential to be included in a nutrition education and advocacy program to improve the availability of healthy foods. MEASURES: The Menu Checklist was adapted from previously tested measurement tools developed by the Prevention Research Center at Saint Louis University. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), kappa statistics, and percent agreements were calculated to assess interrater reliability. Descriptive statistics were calculated to show the availability of cues for healthy foods. RESULTS: The interrater reliability coefficients for the majority of items were high (.93-1.0). Labeling on restaurant menus was rare, as were low-fat choices. Fruits and vegetables were readily available: 31% of all entrees included one serving and 39% of all appetizers were primarily fruits and vegetables. CONCLUSIONS: The Menu Checklist is a reliable, low-cost means for community members to collect data on influences on food choices in restaurants.

Black or African American↗