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

Document Type

Article

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.