Anne N Thorndike
Biographic Data
| ID | 1727431 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Anne N Thorndike |
| GIVEN NAMES | Anne N |
| FAMILY NAME | Thorndike |
| SIGNATURE | THORNDIKE A N |
| AFFILIATIONS | Harvard University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1096-9221 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 49 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 20 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2002 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Network threats to causal inference
Researchers and practitioners rely on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to make causal inferences. However, most people who participate in RCTs are part of multiple, overlapping social networks that shape their behaviors and attitudes. As a result, variations in trial participants’ and non-participants’ network positions may impede the generalizability of a RCT’s conclusions. The current project evaluates the extent and impact of these variatio…
Effects of in-store marketing on food and beverage purchases
Objective: Most food retailers display foods in prominent locations as a marketing strategy (i.e. ‘placement promotions’). We examined the extent to which households with children change their food and beverage purchases in response to these promotions. Design: We analysed a novel dataset of all products promoted in two supermarkets from 2016 to 2017, including promotion dates and locations (e.g. aisle endcaps and front registers). We linked prom…
Network spillover effects associated with the ChooseWell 365 workplace randomized controlled trial to promote healthy food choices
Assessment of the Massachusetts Flexible Services Program to Address Food and Housing Insecurity in a Medicaid Accountable Care Organization
This mixed-methods qualitative evaluation study found that to improve implementation, Medicaid and health system programs that address social needs may benefit from providing funding for administrative costs, developing bidirectional data-sharing platforms, and tailoring support to patient preferences
A food bank program to help food pantries improve healthy food choices
Background The Greater Boston Food Bank’s (GBFB) Healthy Pantry Program (HPP) is an online training that teaches food pantry staff to implement behavioral nudges (e.g., traffic-light nutrition labels, choice architecture) to promote healthier client choices. This study assessed if HPP was associated with healthier food bank orders by food pantries and identified implementation facilitators and barriers. Methods This mixed methods study collected …
Unmet health needs and barriers to health care among people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco’s Mission District
People experiencing homelessness face many different health needs and barriers to care, some of which community-based organizations have the ability to address. These findings can help inform future strategies for homeless health care programs to identify and target the specific unmet health needs and barriers to care of people experiencing homelessness in their communities
Cooking for Health
This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on October 9, 2018 with Identifier NCT03699709
Comparing shopper characteristics by online grocery ordering use among households in low-income communities in Maine
Objective: Online grocery shopping could improve access to healthy food, but it may not be equally accessible to all populations – especially those at higher risk for food insecurity. The current study aimed to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of families who ordered groceries online v . those who only shopped in-store. Design: We analysed enrollment survey and 44 weeks of individually linked grocery transaction data. We used univari…
Social connections and the healthfulness of food choices in an employee population
Healthy choice architecture in the supermarket
Parents’ social norms and children’s exposure to three behavioral risk factors for chronic disease
Social norms predict health behaviors of adults and adolescents. We aimed to determine if parents’ beliefs about social norms were associated with children’s exposure to three behavioral risk factors. We asked 648 parents of children ages 0-18 years old attending two pediatric practices about their children’s exposure to smoking at home. Parents of 341 parents with children >2 years old were also asked about insufficient dental care, and 435 with…
Association of work-related and leisure-time physical activity with workplace food purchases, dietary quality, and health of hospital employees
This trial was prospectively registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02660086) on January 21, 2016. The first participant was enrolled on September 16, 2016
Support for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Alternatives Among US Adults, 2018
AffiliationsRebecca L. Franckle, Sara N. Bleich, Mary T. G. Findling, and Eric B. Rimm are with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Michele Polacsek is with the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME. Anne N. Thorndike is with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Alyssa J. Moran is with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore,…
Traffic-light labels and financial incentives to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage purchases by low-income Latino families
Objective The objective of the present study was to test the effectiveness of financial incentives and traffic-light labels to reduce purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages in a community supermarket. Design In this randomized controlled trial, after a 2-month baseline period (February–March 2014), in-store traffic-light labels were posted to indicate healthy (green), less healthy (yellow) or unhealthy (red) beverages. During the subsequent five …
Choice architecture to promote fruit and vegetable purchases by families participating in the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Objective To conduct a pilot study to determine if improving the visibility and quality of fresh produce (choice architecture) in corner stores would increase fruit/vegetable purchases by families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Design Six stores were randomly assigned to choice architecture intervention or control. Store-level WIC sales data were provided by the state. Primary o…
Obesity Prevention in the Supermarket—Choice Architecture and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Obesity Prevention in the Supermarket—Choice Architecture and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Affiliation Anne N. Thorndike MD, MPH, and Cass R. Sunstein JDAnne N. Thorndike is with Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, and the General Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Cass R. Sunstein is with Harvard Law School, Cambridge.CopyRightCorrespondence should be sent to Anne N. Thorndike, …
A 2-Phase Labeling and Choice Architecture Intervention to Improve Healthy Food and Beverage Choices
Objectives. We assessed whether a 2-phase labeling and choice architecture intervention would increase sales of healthy food and beverages in a large hospital cafeteria. Methods. Phase 1 was a 3-month color-coded labeling intervention (red = unhealthy, yellow = less healthy, green = healthy). Phase 2 added a 3-month choice architecture intervention that increased the visibility and convenience of some green items. We compared relative changes in …
Use of nicotine replacement therapy to reduce or delay smoking but not to quit
Use of NRT for reasons other than quitting smoking may be more common than was previously estimated. This population based survey finds no strong evidence that NRT use for purposes other than quitting smoking is either harmful or helpful
The Treatment of Smoking by US Physicians During Ambulatory Visits
Objectives. We sought to determine whether US physicians’ practice patterns in treating tobacco use at ambulatory visits improved over the past decade with the appearance of national clinical practice guidelines, new smoking cessation medications, and public reporting of physician performance in counseling smokers. Methods. We compared data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, an annual survey of a random sample of office visits to U…
Effect on Smoking Cessation of Switching Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Over-the-Counter Status
Objectives. This study examined whether the change in nicotine replacement therapy sales from prescription to over the counter (OTC) status affected smoking cessation. Methods. We used the 1993–1999 Massachusetts Tobacco Surveys to compare data from adult current smokers and recent quitters before and after the OTC switch. Results. No significant change over time occurred in the proportion of smokers who used nicotine replacement therapy at a qui…
A 2-Phase Labeling and Choice Architecture Intervention to Improve Healthy Food and Beverage Choices
Objectives. We assessed whether a 2-phase labeling and choice architecture intervention would increase sales of healthy food and beverages in a large hospital cafeteria. Methods. Phase 1 was a 3-month color-coded labeling intervention (red = unhealthy, yellow = less healthy, green = healthy). Phase 2 added a 3-month choice architecture intervention that increased the visibility and convenience of some green items. We compared relative changes in …
The Treatment of Smoking by US Physicians During Ambulatory Visits
Objectives. We sought to determine whether US physicians’ practice patterns in treating tobacco use at ambulatory visits improved over the past decade with the appearance of national clinical practice guidelines, new smoking cessation medications, and public reporting of physician performance in counseling smokers. Methods. We compared data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, an annual survey of a random sample of office visits to U…
Effect on Smoking Cessation of Switching Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Over-the-Counter Status
Objectives. This study examined whether the change in nicotine replacement therapy sales from prescription to over the counter (OTC) status affected smoking cessation. Methods. We used the 1993–1999 Massachusetts Tobacco Surveys to compare data from adult current smokers and recent quitters before and after the OTC switch. Results. No significant change over time occurred in the proportion of smokers who used nicotine replacement therapy at a qui…
Support for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Alternatives Among US Adults, 2018
AffiliationsRebecca L. Franckle, Sara N. Bleich, Mary T. G. Findling, and Eric B. Rimm are with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Michele Polacsek is with the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME. Anne N. Thorndike is with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Alyssa J. Moran is with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore,…
Social connections and the healthfulness of food choices in an employee population
Obesity Prevention in the Supermarket—Choice Architecture and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Obesity Prevention in the Supermarket—Choice Architecture and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Affiliation Anne N. Thorndike MD, MPH, and Cass R. Sunstein JDAnne N. Thorndike is with Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, and the General Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Cass R. Sunstein is with Harvard Law School, Cambridge.CopyRightCorrespondence should be sent to Anne N. Thorndike, …
Network spillover effects associated with the ChooseWell 365 workplace randomized controlled trial to promote healthy food choices
Healthy choice architecture in the supermarket
Effect on Smoking Cessation of Switching Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Over-the-Counter Status
Objectives. This study examined whether the change in nicotine replacement therapy sales from prescription to over the counter (OTC) status affected smoking cessation. Methods. We used the 1993–1999 Massachusetts Tobacco Surveys to compare data from adult current smokers and recent quitters before and after the OTC switch. Results. No significant change over time occurred in the proportion of smokers who used nicotine replacement therapy at a qui…
Use of nicotine replacement therapy to reduce or delay smoking but not to quit
Use of NRT for reasons other than quitting smoking may be more common than was previously estimated. This population based survey finds no strong evidence that NRT use for purposes other than quitting smoking is either harmful or helpful
The Treatment of Smoking by US Physicians During Ambulatory Visits
Objectives. We sought to determine whether US physicians’ practice patterns in treating tobacco use at ambulatory visits improved over the past decade with the appearance of national clinical practice guidelines, new smoking cessation medications, and public reporting of physician performance in counseling smokers. Methods. We compared data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, an annual survey of a random sample of office visits to U…
A 2-Phase Labeling and Choice Architecture Intervention to Improve Healthy Food and Beverage Choices
Objectives. We assessed whether a 2-phase labeling and choice architecture intervention would increase sales of healthy food and beverages in a large hospital cafeteria. Methods. Phase 1 was a 3-month color-coded labeling intervention (red = unhealthy, yellow = less healthy, green = healthy). Phase 2 added a 3-month choice architecture intervention that increased the visibility and convenience of some green items. We compared relative changes in …
Choice architecture to promote fruit and vegetable purchases by families participating in the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Objective To conduct a pilot study to determine if improving the visibility and quality of fresh produce (choice architecture) in corner stores would increase fruit/vegetable purchases by families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Design Six stores were randomly assigned to choice architecture intervention or control. Store-level WIC sales data were provided by the state. Primary o…
Obesity Prevention in the Supermarket—Choice Architecture and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Obesity Prevention in the Supermarket—Choice Architecture and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Affiliation Anne N. Thorndike MD, MPH, and Cass R. Sunstein JDAnne N. Thorndike is with Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, and the General Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Cass R. Sunstein is with Harvard Law School, Cambridge.CopyRightCorrespondence should be sent to Anne N. Thorndike, …
Traffic-light labels and financial incentives to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage purchases by low-income Latino families
Objective The objective of the present study was to test the effectiveness of financial incentives and traffic-light labels to reduce purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages in a community supermarket. Design In this randomized controlled trial, after a 2-month baseline period (February–March 2014), in-store traffic-light labels were posted to indicate healthy (green), less healthy (yellow) or unhealthy (red) beverages. During the subsequent five …
Parents’ social norms and children’s exposure to three behavioral risk factors for chronic disease
Social norms predict health behaviors of adults and adolescents. We aimed to determine if parents’ beliefs about social norms were associated with children’s exposure to three behavioral risk factors. We asked 648 parents of children ages 0-18 years old attending two pediatric practices about their children’s exposure to smoking at home. Parents of 341 parents with children >2 years old were also asked about insufficient dental care, and 435 with…
Association of work-related and leisure-time physical activity with workplace food purchases, dietary quality, and health of hospital employees
This trial was prospectively registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02660086) on January 21, 2016. The first participant was enrolled on September 16, 2016
Support for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Alternatives Among US Adults, 2018
AffiliationsRebecca L. Franckle, Sara N. Bleich, Mary T. G. Findling, and Eric B. Rimm are with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Michele Polacsek is with the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME. Anne N. Thorndike is with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Alyssa J. Moran is with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore,…
Healthy choice architecture in the supermarket
Cooking for Health
This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on October 9, 2018 with Identifier NCT03699709
Comparing shopper characteristics by online grocery ordering use among households in low-income communities in Maine
Objective: Online grocery shopping could improve access to healthy food, but it may not be equally accessible to all populations – especially those at higher risk for food insecurity. The current study aimed to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of families who ordered groceries online v . those who only shopped in-store. Design: We analysed enrollment survey and 44 weeks of individually linked grocery transaction data. We used univari…
Social connections and the healthfulness of food choices in an employee population
Unmet health needs and barriers to health care among people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco’s Mission District
People experiencing homelessness face many different health needs and barriers to care, some of which community-based organizations have the ability to address. These findings can help inform future strategies for homeless health care programs to identify and target the specific unmet health needs and barriers to care of people experiencing homelessness in their communities
Assessment of the Massachusetts Flexible Services Program to Address Food and Housing Insecurity in a Medicaid Accountable Care Organization
This mixed-methods qualitative evaluation study found that to improve implementation, Medicaid and health system programs that address social needs may benefit from providing funding for administrative costs, developing bidirectional data-sharing platforms, and tailoring support to patient preferences
A food bank program to help food pantries improve healthy food choices
Background The Greater Boston Food Bank’s (GBFB) Healthy Pantry Program (HPP) is an online training that teaches food pantry staff to implement behavioral nudges (e.g., traffic-light nutrition labels, choice architecture) to promote healthier client choices. This study assessed if HPP was associated with healthier food bank orders by food pantries and identified implementation facilitators and barriers. Methods This mixed methods study collected …
Effects of in-store marketing on food and beverage purchases
Objective: Most food retailers display foods in prominent locations as a marketing strategy (i.e. ‘placement promotions’). We examined the extent to which households with children change their food and beverage purchases in response to these promotions. Design: We analysed a novel dataset of all products promoted in two supermarkets from 2016 to 2017, including promotion dates and locations (e.g. aisle endcaps and front registers). We linked prom…
Network spillover effects associated with the ChooseWell 365 workplace randomized controlled trial to promote healthy food choices
Network threats to causal inference
Researchers and practitioners rely on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to make causal inferences. However, most people who participate in RCTs are part of multiple, overlapping social networks that shape their behaviors and attitudes. As a result, variations in trial participants’ and non-participants’ network positions may impede the generalizability of a RCT’s conclusions. The current project evaluates the extent and impact of these variatio…
Medicine (18 works) · Environmental health (14 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (13 works) · Nursing (8 works) · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations (7 works) · Gerontology (7 works) · Population (7 works) · Public health (7 works) · Business (6 works) · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling (6 works)