Barriers to implementation of a healthy canteen policy: A survey using the theoretical domains framework

Improving implementation of school healthy canteen policies requires a comprehensive understanding of implementation barriers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess a range of barriers, as reported by canteen managers, using a quantitative survey instrument developed based on a theoretical framework.

A cross sectional survey of primary school canteen managers from the Hunter New England region of New South Wales was conducted of eligible schools in the study region identified as having an operational canteen. Survey items assessed canteen manager employment status, canteen characteristics and potential barriers to healthy canteen policy implementation, aligned to the 14 domains of the theoretical domains framework via a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The mean domain scores of canteen managers were calculated, less than four indicating the canteen manager considered the domain was a barrier. Canteen managers were also asked to provide the current canteen menu for audit by a dietitian.

Of the 184 participants, 20% (n = 36) were assessed as having menus compliant with the state policy. The five most common domains identified as potential barriers to policy implementation were behavioural regulation (n = 117, 65%), skills (n = 105, 57%), beliefs about capabilities (n = 100, 55%), reinforcement (n = 95, 52%) and goals (n = 95, 52%). Canteen managers who reported optimism as a barrier had significantly lower odds of having a menu compliant with the state policy (OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.16-0.95, P = 0.038).

This study provides further evidence of perceived and actual barriers that canteen managers face when attempting to implement a healthy canteen policy, and highlights the need to address differences in canteen characteristics when planning implementation support. SO WHAT?: For public health benefits of nutrition policies within schools to be realised, the barriers to implementation need to be identified and used to help guide implementation support strategies.