Objective:
Online meal ordering services are increasing in popularity in Australia and globally. Meals ordered online for home delivery are typically less healthy than home-made meals, potentially contributing to weight gain. The aim of the present study was to identify the types of consumers who are most likely to engage in online meal ordering.
Design:
A cross-sectional survey including items relating to demographic and lifestyle factors was disseminated via a web panel provider.
Setting:
Australia.
Participants:
2,010 Australian adults aged 18+ years.
Results:
More than a quarter of respondents (28%) engaged in online meal ordering at least once in the previous month. Younger respondents, those with a higher body mass index, and those with higher education and income levels were more likely to have done so. Consuming higher levels of sugary drinks and fast food restaurant patronage were significantly associated with ordering meals online for home delivery.
Conclusions:
The outcomes of this study suggest that the use of online meal ordering services is becoming a common practice in Australia, and it is therefore important to implement evidence-based strategies and policies to encourage individuals to make healthy food choices when using these services.
Background
In response to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was rapidly rolled out in health services across Australia including those delivering cancer care. This study aimed to understand people with cancer and carers’ experiences with telehealth for cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions.
Method
Semi-structured interviews conducted with people with cancer and carers via telephone or online video link between December 2020 and May 2021. Participants were recruited through cancer networks and social media. Interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis undertaken.
Results
Twenty-three patients and 5 carers were interviewed. Telephone-based appointments were most common. Responses to telehealth were influenced by existing relationships with doctors, treatment/cancer stage and type of appointment. Four themes were derived: (i) benefits, (ii) quality of care concerns, (iii) involving carers, and (iv) optimising use of telehealth. Benefits included efficiency and reduced travel. Quality of care concerns identified subthemes: transactional feel to appointments; difficulties for rapport; suitability for appointment type and adequacy for monitoring. Both patients and carers noted a lack of opportunity for carers to participate in telephone-based appointments. Aligning appointment mode (i.e. telehealth or in person) with appointment purpose and ensuring telehealth was the patient’s choice were seen as essential for its ongoing use.
Discussion and conclusions
While telehealth has benefits, its potential to reduce the quality of interactions with clinicians made it less attractive for cancer patients. Patient-centred guidelines that ensure patient choice, quality communication, and alignment with appointment purpose may help to increase telehealth’s utility for people affected by cancer.
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