Development and Validation of a Simple Convenience Store SHELF Audit

Authors

Tanya M. Horacek, Syracuse UniversityFollow
Elif Dede Yildirim, Auburn UniversityFollow
Erin Kelly, Syracuse UniversityFollow
Adrienne A. White, University of MaineFollow
Karla P. Shelnutt, University of FloridaFollow
Kristin Riggsbee, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow
Melissa D. Olfert, West Virginia UniversityFollow
Jesse Stabile Morrell, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow
Anne E. Matthews, University of FloridaFollow
Terezie T. Mosby, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Tandalayo Kidd, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Kendra Kattelmann, South Dakota State UniversityFollow
Geoffrey Greene, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Lisa Franzen-Castle, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Sarah E. Colby, University of TennesseeFollow
Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Rutgers UniversityFollow
Onikia Brown, Auburn UniversityFollow

ORCID IDs

0000-0002-6069-9939

0000-0002-9576-5692

0000-0002-3799-9212

0000-0002-6686-3891

0000-0002-0758-8519

0000-0003-3504-5826

0000-0002-0830-7491

0000-0002-6186-2822

0000-0003-0352-1314

0000-0002-8298-3690

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 2676

Comments

© 2018 by the authors.

Open access

doi:10.3390/ijerph15122676

Abstract

Background This paper describes the development, reliability, and convergent validity of a practical tool—the Convenience Store Supportive Healthy Environment for Life-Promoting Food (SHELF) Audit. Methods Audit items included: a variety of fresh, processed, and frozen fruits and vegetables; low-fat dairy products; healthy staples and frozen meals; healthy food incentive programs; items sold in check-out areas; portion/cup sizes; and pricing. Each audit item was scored using a five-point semantic-differential scale (1 = provides little or no support for healthful foods to 5 = provides high support for healthful foods). Convergent validity was examined by comparing the SHELF audit to Ghirardelli et al. and Laska et al. store audits. Statistical analysis included: Factor analysis, ANOVA, and Spearman correlations. ResultsSHELF included three factors: a Fruits/Vegetables scale (eight items, α = 0.79; total potential points = 34); a Healthy Foods scale (four items, α = 0.72; total potential points = 16); and a Supports scale (four items, α = 0.685; total potential points = 16). Only 6% of the 124 convenience stores assessed scored in the most healthful range (46–66). The assessed drug stores (n = 15) scored higher than convenience stores (n = 81) on the Healthy Foods and Supports scales but not the Fruits/Vegetables scale. The SHELF sub-scores were highly correlated with other audit tools indicating convergent validity. Conclusion The SHELF convenience store audit is a valid, reliable tool for assessing the degree to which convenience stores support healthfulness regarding Fruits/Vegetables, Healthy Foods, and Supports for choosing healthy.