“It's such a luxury, we may as well get something we really want”: a qualitative exploration of public perceptions of health and public health implications of on-demand delivery

Résumé fourni par la source

On-demand delivery of commodities like food and alcohol for immediate consumption has rapidly increased. This shift has significant public health implications, yet consumers understanding of these implications and how they influence consumer decision-making remain underexplored. This study used a qualitative methodology informed by a critical theoretical framework. This lens is aligned with a public health analysis of technologies that shape environments that influence people's consumption. Six diverse focus groups were undertaken in New Zealand, of people who use on-demand delivery services. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, with both inductive and deductive coding used to generate initial themes and sub-themes. Participants expressed strong individual responsibility narratives and emphasised that convenience underpins use. There was limited awareness or consideration of public health implications, or the role of industry behaviour (e.g. algorithms) in shaping use and creating habitual consumption patterns. This study emphasises the tensions between notions of personal choice and public health impacts that may be difficult for consumers to see, such as workers' rights or environmental impacts. This tension can make public health interventions challenging, particularly given that these industries reinforce framing of individual responsibility. This could be countered by drawing attention to how current contexts of cost, promotions, and geographical location restrict consumers choice, make their use easy and convenient, and highlight how interventions might promote autonomy by increasing access to healthier options and regulating commercial determinants of health.

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