The adaptive consumer: shifting attitudes, behavior change and CSA membership renewal

A qualitative study was conducted with a subset of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership base in Wisconsin, USA to examine attitude and behavior change associated with membership. Changes that were examined included: modified eating or cooking habits, increased consideration of food seasonality and associated consumer preferences for seasonal products, and an enhanced appreciation for farming. Although this study investigated ‘spillover’ attitude or behavior changes (e.g. reduced driving or increased use of environmentally friendly cleaning products), none were observed. This study indicates that attitude and behavior changes are generated by the structural elements of CSA including exposure to the farm, interactions with the farmer, and the constraints imposed by a pre-selected bundle of vegetables. There was no indication that changes occur due to the development and enforcement of social norms within the CSA membership base. Community, in the context of this CSA, is expressed primarily as a conceptual community of interest. Our results suggest that demonstrated attitude and behavior change increases the likelihood that a consumer will renew their CSA membership.

Primary Care-Led Mental Health Service Reform: An Outline of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative

Objective: To describe the key features of the ‘Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care’ initiative (2001-2005) and to detail some of the conceptual, community, professional and epidemiological forces that shaped its content. Conclusions: The ‘Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care’ initiative represents a major development in mental health care in Australia. It recognises the central role of primary care, promotes integrated medical and psychological care, rewards treatments that occur over an episode of illness, promotes active purchasing of non-pharmacological interventions earlier in the course of illness, and attempts to better link general practitioners, non-medical mental health specialists and psychiatrists to meet population-based mental health needs. Central to its development has been a commitment by general practitioners to develop progressively better mental health skills and measure both individual consumer and system-related outcomes.