Abstract
Background
Creative solutions are required to mitigate poor food access and related health disparities
in underserved, at-risk populations because healthy food access is an important social
determinant of health. Mobile markets (ie, mobile grocery stores) present a potential
solution to mitigate poor food access and related health disparities. However, no
research has yet evaluated the impact of a full-service mobile market that sells healthy
items from all food groups and pantry staples in underserved communities.
Objective
Therefore, the objective of this focus group research study was to inductively understand
the impact of the full-service, Twin Cities Mobile Market, a mobile grocery store,
that visits underserved, low-income communities.
Design
Qualitative focus group research.
Participants/setting
Four moderated and audio-recorded, qualitative focus groups with customers (n = 29)
were held in community rooms at mobile market stops.
Analysis
Focus group transcripts were analyzed using Krueger’s systematic analysis process
and content analysis to discover major categories and themes and subthemes within
the categories.
Results
Findings indicate the full-service mobile market may facilitate purchase and eating
of healthy foods through decreasing barriers and increasing access to quality, affordable
healthy foods. Findings also indicate mobile market shopping may positively influence
customer behaviors and health outcomes (eg, dietary intake and management of weight,
diabetes, blood pressure, and mental health).
Conclusions
Our results provide support for the potential impact of full-service mobile markets,
encouraging continued mobile market service and future rigorous research on the effectiveness
of the full-service mobile market model.
Keywords
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Biography
M. L. Horning is an assistant professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Biography
L. R. Porter is director, Twin Cities Mobile Market, which was a program of Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, St Paul, MN. (The Twin Cities Mobile Market is now a program of The Food Group, New Hope, MN, as of March 2020.)
Biography
A. Hassan is an RN, Huss Center for Recovery, People Incorporated, Minneapolis, MN; at the time of the study, he was a graduate research assistant, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Biography
E. Edson is an RN, United Hospital, Allina Health, St Paul, MN; at the time of the study, she was an undergraduate research assistant, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 01, 2020
Accepted:
February 25,
2020
Received:
September 30,
2019
Footnotes
Supplementary materials: Figure 2 and Table 2 are available at www.jandonline.org.
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This research was funded by a Grant-in-Aid from the University of Minnesota, Office of the Vice President for Research.
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
