Megan Ferguson
Biographic Data
| ID | 3583505 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Megan Ferguson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Megan |
| FAMILY NAME | Ferguson |
| SIGNATURE | FERGUSON M |
| AFFILIATIONS | The University of Queensland |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4435-0948 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 24 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 20 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 24 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Benchmarking for continuous improvement in food retail environments
Benchmarking, closely related to audit and feedback processes, is an implementation strategy that continuously measures performance against defined functions and metrics and implements change accordingly. Benchmarking is increasingly being applied in public health nutrition to improve food environments for health. However, the process and mechanisms by which benchmarking interventions can drive continuous improvement in food retail settings is no…
Drivers of food cost in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia
A key determinant of diet quality in outer regional to very remote areas is the higher cost of food. This systematic scoping review aims to identify evidence gaps on drivers of the cost of food, to guide future research and policy development to improve food security across outer regional to very remote areas of Australia. The Joanna Briggs Institute three step literature search was utilised and the review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA …
Factors influencing parents’ food-purchasing decisions in the Pacific
Health promotion efforts and public health policies should recognize the multi-dimensional nature of the factors influencing Tongan parents' food-purchasing decisions. Given the prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Tonga, the social, cultural, commercial and environmental factors driving unhealthy food-purchasing and population diets in Tonga should be a priority for governments and health promotion practitioners
Diet quality, food security and traditional food intake of pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children 6 months to 5 years, living in eight remote Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander c…
This work is part of a trial that has been registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12621000640808. Trial registration date: 28/05/2021
Identifying healthy food and beverages in food retail store point-of-sale systems
Alternative methods to the expert-informed process examined in this study should be considered to classify food and beverages in remote food retail point-of-sale systems. The Thumbs Rating provides a valid classification system and would provide an automated means of classification that could be linked to point-of-sale systems. A shift in classification for a small proportion of products, would need to be considered in applying the Thumbs Rating …
Food environments in the Pacific region and efforts to improve them
Objective: To understand the characteristics of food environments in the Pacific region, and the broader economic, policy and sociocultural surroundings that influence food choices and interventions to improve food environments for Pacific communities. Design: Systematic searches were conducted for articles related to food environments or factors influencing food choices from 1993 to 2024 in five academic databases, Google, Google Scholar and rel…
Inquiry Into Chittleborough Et Al 2023 Article
Pathways between foodways and wellbeing for First Nations Australians
Five pathways through which wellbeing is supported via foodways for First Nations peoples were identified as: connecting with others through food; accessing traditional foods; experiencing joy in making and sharing food; sharing information about food and nutrition; and strategies for improving food security. These findings offer constructive, nationally relevant evidence to guide and inform health and nutrition programs and services to harness t…
A systems framework for implementing healthy food retail in grocery settings
Several differences were found when implementing healthy food retail in grocery compared to health promotion settings. The START-G map offers preliminary guidance for identifying and addressing commercial interests in grocery settings that currently promote less healthy foods and beverages, including by starting to address business outcomes and supplier relationships
Using photovoice to generate solutions to improve food security among families living in remote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia
The right to food security has been recognised internationally, and nationally in Australia by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. This study aims to explore food (in)security and solutions for improvement of food security in remote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia, from the perspective of caregivers of children within the context of the family using photovoice. Participants took part in workshop…
Benchmarking for healthy food stores
ACTRN12622000596707, Protocol version 1
Development of a survey tool to assess the environmental determinants of health-enabling food retail practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of remote Australia
The application of this evidence-informed, co-designed survey will provide a first-time cross-sectional analysis and the potential for ongoing longitudinal data and advocacy on how environmental factors affect the operations of remote stores
The use of private regulatory measures to create healthy food retail environments
Objective: Different forms of public and private regulation have been used to improve the healthiness of food retail environments. The aim of this scoping review was to systematically examine the types of private regulatory measures used to create healthy food retail environments, the reporting of the processes of implementation, monitoring, review and enforcement and the barriers to and enablers of these. Design: Scoping review using the Johanna…
Communities Setting the Direction for Their Right to Nutritious, Affordable Food
Despite long histories of traditional food security, Indigenous peoples globally are disproportionately exposed to food insecurity. Addressing this imbalance must be a partnership led by Indigenous peoples in accordance with the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We report the co-design process and resulting design of a food security research project in remote Australia and examine how the co-design process considered Indigenous …
Are the impacts of food systems on climate change being reported by the media? An Australian media analysis
Objective: Food systems are a major contributor to climate change, producing one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, public knowledge of food systems’ contributions to climate change is low. One reason for low public awareness may be limited media coverage of the issue. To investigate this, we conducted a media analysis examining coverage of food systems and their contribution to climate change in Australian newspapers. Design: We …
Conceptualisation, experiences and suggestions for improvement of food security amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers in remote Australian communities
This study aimed to determine perceptions of the lived experience of food insecurity and suggestions to improve food security in four remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, and Queensland. Participants were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pregnant and breastfeeding women, and parents/carers of children aged six months to five years. Semi-structured interviews (n=17) were conducted between June-July 2021 and the data the…
Using unfolding case studies to better prepare the public health nutrition workforce to address the social determinants of health
Objective The public health nutrition workforce has been reported to be underprepared for practice. The present study aimed to test the ability of an unfolding case study approach to support the public health nutrition workforce for the workplace, with a focus on improved access to nutritious food. Design Two unfolding case studies were trialled with undergraduate students in two-hour workshops to enhance their capability to address access to nut…
Health-Promoting Food Pricing Policies and Decision-Making in Very Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Stores in Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote communities in Australia experience a disproportionate burden of diet-related chronic disease. This occurs in an environment where the cost of store-purchased food is high and cash incomes are low, factors that affect both food insecurity and health outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storeowners and the retailers who work with them implement local policies with the aim of …
Feasibility of a novel participatory multi-sector continuous improvement approach to enhance food security in remote Indigenous Australian communities
A multi-sector participatory approach seeking continuous improvement engaged committed Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders and was shown to have potential to shift community diet. Provision of clear mechanisms to link this approach with higher level policy and decision-making structures, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and processes to prioritise and communicate actions across sectors should further strengthen capacity for food secu…
Fluctuations in money availability within an income cycle impacts diet quality of remote Indigenous Australians
Objective To consider the plausible nutritional impacts of fluctuations in money availability within an income cycle for remote Indigenous Australians. Design Community-level dietary intake (energy, micro/macronutrients) and expenditure on foods and beverages (F&B) were estimated over one year for three remote Indigenous Australian communities (Northern Territory, Australia) using monthly F&B transaction data. F&B that were likely to be consumed …
Strengthening food systems with remote Indigenous Australians
It is well accepted that actions to enhance food security and nutrition outcomes in remote Indigenous Australian communities have limited success when focusing on single factors and could far better be addressed by working across the whole food system. The formation of multi-sector groups to collectively work towards improved food security could facilitate this approach. This study sought to elicit the perceptions of a range of stakeholders on th…
Prospective individual and social predictors of changes in adjustment for patients attending a regional cancer service
Benefit Finding After Cancer
Purpose: Benefit finding after cancer is common. The mechanism for this may include cognitive processing of the cancer trauma within a supportive social context. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 439 cancer patients assessing optimism, intrusion, avoidance, social support and constraints, anxiety, depression, QOL, benefit finding. Results: Benefit finding was predicted by female gender, greater optimism, high intrusive thinking, high social supp…
Going Alone or Moving Together
This article builds upon previous research that indicates that multilevel governance, especially at subnational levels and in the private sector, has the greatest potential to address the problem of climate change. Specifically, this article updates the study of climate change efforts among the Canadian provinces and the American states through case analysis. We identify two longitudinal strategies found in both the provinces and the states--a fr…
Going Alone or Moving Together
This article builds upon previous research that indicates that multilevel governance, especially at subnational levels and in the private sector, has the greatest potential to address the problem of climate change. Specifically, this article updates the study of climate change efforts among the Canadian provinces and the American states through case analysis. We identify two longitudinal strategies found in both the provinces and the states--a fr…
Benefit Finding After Cancer
Purpose: Benefit finding after cancer is common. The mechanism for this may include cognitive processing of the cancer trauma within a supportive social context. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 439 cancer patients assessing optimism, intrusion, avoidance, social support and constraints, anxiety, depression, QOL, benefit finding. Results: Benefit finding was predicted by female gender, greater optimism, high intrusive thinking, high social supp…
Conceptualisation, experiences and suggestions for improvement of food security amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers in remote Australian communities
This study aimed to determine perceptions of the lived experience of food insecurity and suggestions to improve food security in four remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, and Queensland. Participants were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pregnant and breastfeeding women, and parents/carers of children aged six months to five years. Semi-structured interviews (n=17) were conducted between June-July 2021 and the data the…
Going Alone or Moving Together
This article builds upon previous research that indicates that multilevel governance, especially at subnational levels and in the private sector, has the greatest potential to address the problem of climate change. Specifically, this article updates the study of climate change efforts among the Canadian provinces and the American states through case analysis. We identify two longitudinal strategies found in both the provinces and the states--a fr…
Benefit Finding After Cancer
Purpose: Benefit finding after cancer is common. The mechanism for this may include cognitive processing of the cancer trauma within a supportive social context. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 439 cancer patients assessing optimism, intrusion, avoidance, social support and constraints, anxiety, depression, QOL, benefit finding. Results: Benefit finding was predicted by female gender, greater optimism, high intrusive thinking, high social supp…
Prospective individual and social predictors of changes in adjustment for patients attending a regional cancer service
Strengthening food systems with remote Indigenous Australians
It is well accepted that actions to enhance food security and nutrition outcomes in remote Indigenous Australian communities have limited success when focusing on single factors and could far better be addressed by working across the whole food system. The formation of multi-sector groups to collectively work towards improved food security could facilitate this approach. This study sought to elicit the perceptions of a range of stakeholders on th…
Feasibility of a novel participatory multi-sector continuous improvement approach to enhance food security in remote Indigenous Australian communities
A multi-sector participatory approach seeking continuous improvement engaged committed Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders and was shown to have potential to shift community diet. Provision of clear mechanisms to link this approach with higher level policy and decision-making structures, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and processes to prioritise and communicate actions across sectors should further strengthen capacity for food secu…
Fluctuations in money availability within an income cycle impacts diet quality of remote Indigenous Australians
Objective To consider the plausible nutritional impacts of fluctuations in money availability within an income cycle for remote Indigenous Australians. Design Community-level dietary intake (energy, micro/macronutrients) and expenditure on foods and beverages (F&B) were estimated over one year for three remote Indigenous Australian communities (Northern Territory, Australia) using monthly F&B transaction data. F&B that were likely to be consumed …
Health-Promoting Food Pricing Policies and Decision-Making in Very Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Stores in Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote communities in Australia experience a disproportionate burden of diet-related chronic disease. This occurs in an environment where the cost of store-purchased food is high and cash incomes are low, factors that affect both food insecurity and health outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storeowners and the retailers who work with them implement local policies with the aim of …
Using unfolding case studies to better prepare the public health nutrition workforce to address the social determinants of health
Objective The public health nutrition workforce has been reported to be underprepared for practice. The present study aimed to test the ability of an unfolding case study approach to support the public health nutrition workforce for the workplace, with a focus on improved access to nutritious food. Design Two unfolding case studies were trialled with undergraduate students in two-hour workshops to enhance their capability to address access to nut…
Communities Setting the Direction for Their Right to Nutritious, Affordable Food
Despite long histories of traditional food security, Indigenous peoples globally are disproportionately exposed to food insecurity. Addressing this imbalance must be a partnership led by Indigenous peoples in accordance with the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We report the co-design process and resulting design of a food security research project in remote Australia and examine how the co-design process considered Indigenous …
Are the impacts of food systems on climate change being reported by the media? An Australian media analysis
Objective: Food systems are a major contributor to climate change, producing one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, public knowledge of food systems’ contributions to climate change is low. One reason for low public awareness may be limited media coverage of the issue. To investigate this, we conducted a media analysis examining coverage of food systems and their contribution to climate change in Australian newspapers. Design: We …
Conceptualisation, experiences and suggestions for improvement of food security amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers in remote Australian communities
This study aimed to determine perceptions of the lived experience of food insecurity and suggestions to improve food security in four remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, and Queensland. Participants were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pregnant and breastfeeding women, and parents/carers of children aged six months to five years. Semi-structured interviews (n=17) were conducted between June-July 2021 and the data the…
Inquiry Into Chittleborough Et Al 2023 Article
Pathways between foodways and wellbeing for First Nations Australians
Five pathways through which wellbeing is supported via foodways for First Nations peoples were identified as: connecting with others through food; accessing traditional foods; experiencing joy in making and sharing food; sharing information about food and nutrition; and strategies for improving food security. These findings offer constructive, nationally relevant evidence to guide and inform health and nutrition programs and services to harness t…
A systems framework for implementing healthy food retail in grocery settings
Several differences were found when implementing healthy food retail in grocery compared to health promotion settings. The START-G map offers preliminary guidance for identifying and addressing commercial interests in grocery settings that currently promote less healthy foods and beverages, including by starting to address business outcomes and supplier relationships
Using photovoice to generate solutions to improve food security among families living in remote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia
The right to food security has been recognised internationally, and nationally in Australia by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. This study aims to explore food (in)security and solutions for improvement of food security in remote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia, from the perspective of caregivers of children within the context of the family using photovoice. Participants took part in workshop…
Benchmarking for healthy food stores
ACTRN12622000596707, Protocol version 1
Development of a survey tool to assess the environmental determinants of health-enabling food retail practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of remote Australia
The application of this evidence-informed, co-designed survey will provide a first-time cross-sectional analysis and the potential for ongoing longitudinal data and advocacy on how environmental factors affect the operations of remote stores
The use of private regulatory measures to create healthy food retail environments
Objective: Different forms of public and private regulation have been used to improve the healthiness of food retail environments. The aim of this scoping review was to systematically examine the types of private regulatory measures used to create healthy food retail environments, the reporting of the processes of implementation, monitoring, review and enforcement and the barriers to and enablers of these. Design: Scoping review using the Johanna…
Factors influencing parents’ food-purchasing decisions in the Pacific
Health promotion efforts and public health policies should recognize the multi-dimensional nature of the factors influencing Tongan parents' food-purchasing decisions. Given the prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Tonga, the social, cultural, commercial and environmental factors driving unhealthy food-purchasing and population diets in Tonga should be a priority for governments and health promotion practitioners
Diet quality, food security and traditional food intake of pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children 6 months to 5 years, living in eight remote Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander c…
This work is part of a trial that has been registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12621000640808. Trial registration date: 28/05/2021
Identifying healthy food and beverages in food retail store point-of-sale systems
Alternative methods to the expert-informed process examined in this study should be considered to classify food and beverages in remote food retail point-of-sale systems. The Thumbs Rating provides a valid classification system and would provide an automated means of classification that could be linked to point-of-sale systems. A shift in classification for a small proportion of products, would need to be considered in applying the Thumbs Rating …
Food environments in the Pacific region and efforts to improve them
Objective: To understand the characteristics of food environments in the Pacific region, and the broader economic, policy and sociocultural surroundings that influence food choices and interventions to improve food environments for Pacific communities. Design: Systematic searches were conducted for articles related to food environments or factors influencing food choices from 1993 to 2024 in five academic databases, Google, Google Scholar and rel…
Benchmarking for continuous improvement in food retail environments
Benchmarking, closely related to audit and feedback processes, is an implementation strategy that continuously measures performance against defined functions and metrics and implements change accordingly. Benchmarking is increasingly being applied in public health nutrition to improve food environments for health. However, the process and mechanisms by which benchmarking interventions can drive continuous improvement in food retail settings is no…
Drivers of food cost in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia
A key determinant of diet quality in outer regional to very remote areas is the higher cost of food. This systematic scoping review aims to identify evidence gaps on drivers of the cost of food, to guide future research and policy development to improve food security across outer regional to very remote areas of Australia. The Joanna Briggs Institute three step literature search was utilised and the review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA …
Medicine (15 works) · Business (13 works) · Environmental health (12 works) · Public health (12 works) · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations (11 works) · Geography (10 works) · Food security (9 works) · Biostatistics (8 works) · Nursing (8 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (8 works)