Context matters-the phased development of an adaptable food literacy intervention: Up for Cooking

Adapting interventions to the context increases the impact and sustainability of interventions. Literature acknowledges the need to adapt existing interventions and that these adaptations should be clearly reported. However, little is known about how to incorporate adaptation from the beginning. This paper argues that interventions should be developed and adaptations should be made using an ongoing non-linear approach. An action-oriented research approach with feedback loops is proposed. We illustrate this with the development of a food literacy intervention 'Up for Cooking' (Dutch: Zin in Koken) and present lessons learned in developing, implementing and studying such adaptable interventions. Interventions should clearly define and differentiate the intervention function and form. Implementers, in turn, should be encouraged to tailor interventions within a form that fits with a specific context. Sufficient time, continuous adaptation based on co-creation, feedback loops and interdisciplinary collaboration are important prerequisites for the development of adaptable interventions.

The Effectiveness of the Good Affordable Food Intervention for Adults with Low Socioeconomic Status and Small Incomes

Good Affordable Food (GAF) is a small-group nutrition education intervention for adults with low socioeconomic status and small incomes. It aims to empower participants to save money on groceries and consume healthier diets. This paper reports the short-term and longer-term effects on behavioural determinants and self-reported behavioural changes. A quasi-experimental control group design was applied with a baseline measurement, a post-test immediately after the intervention, and a follow-up measurement after six months. The study included 237 participants (intervention group: n = 131; control group: n = 106) at baseline, 197 at post-test, and 152 at follow-up. Data were collected by telephone, mostly using closed interview questions. Positive short-term and longer-term effects were found for attitude towards the costs of healthy foods, food label use, and the use of liquid butter or oil to prepare hot meals. Short-term intervention effects related to knowledge towards saving money on groceries, self-efficacy towards healthy eating, portion size awareness, and mindful eating. GAF was effective in changing some determinants and behaviours related to cost and food consumption, however, mostly in the short term. Thereby, it is an example of combining pricing and health information in nutrition education that developers of effective nutrition education for low-income groups can build on.

Population Characteristics and Needs of Informal Caregivers Associated With the Risk of Perceiving a High Burden: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study explored the population characteristics and needs of informal caregivers reporting a low or high burden. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Netherlands to explore the associations between the characteristics and needs of informal caregivers and the burden they perceive and to assess the variance in perceived burdens that is explained by these variables. Three thousand sixty-seven adult informal caregivers and 1936 senior informal caregivers participated, almost 15% of whom perceived a high burden. Particularly caregivers in the 40 to 54 age group perceived a high burden, while caregivers with an intermediate educational level reported a low burden. Higher burden was also reported by caregivers who spent more time on the care provision tasks, had a high level of depressive symptoms, or reported loneliness. The explored variables seem to be important to explain caregiver burden. Longitudinal research is warranted to establish the causal directions of these associations.