Background: Individuals with depression are more likely to consume poor diets and are at increased risk of CVD and diabetes. As grocery shopping can consume a substantial part of a family’s budget it is important to improve shopping and budgeting knowledge of people with depression to encourage a higher intake of healthier food to improve their mental and physical health.
Aim: This study tests the efficacy of fortnightly education sessions designed to improve shopping and budgeting knowledge in people with depression.
Method: Adults aged 18-65 years with depression received four shopping and budgeting education sessions. Knowledge about shopping and budgeting was evaluated using a 27-item purpose-designed questionnaire before and after the education sessions. A 0-10 point agreement scale (with don’t know) assessed agreement with statements relating to shopping and budgeting knowledge. Responses were analysed using a paired samples T-test comparing changes between the intervention (n=41) and control group (n=30).
Results: Overall improvements in mean knowledge scores were observed for 22 of the 27 statements. Significant improvements were observed in knowledge relating to supermarkets not being the cheapest place to buy fruit and vegetables (P=0.04), and monitoring weekly shopping bills when on a budget (P=0.05). Trends towards significance were identified for awareness of unit pricing on supermarket price tags (P=0.06) and use of ‘natural’ on packaging not indicating that the product is natural (P=0.07).
Conclusion:Shopping and budgeting education sessions can improve shopping and budgeting knowledge in people with depression, which may assist with healthier dietary choices.
Funding source: NHMRC PG631947