Danielle Cullen1, Dori Abel2, Megan Attridge3, Joel A Fein4. 1. Pediatric Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (D Cullen and JA Fein), Philadelphia, Pa. Electronic address: CullenDL@email.chop.edu. 2. New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (D Abel), New York, NY. 3. Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (M Attridge), Chicago, Ill. 4. Pediatric Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (D Cullen and JA Fein), Philadelphia, Pa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pediatric health care institutions are increasingly implementing food insecurity (FI) screens, but there is limited information about participant interest in referral and engagement with resources provided. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we recruited participants from a consecutive sample of adult caregivers arriving with pediatric patients in the emergency department at an urban, freestanding children's hospital. Caregivers completed a validated, 2-question screen for FI. All participants received a list of food access resources. Direct referral to a partnered community food resource agency was offered to those who screened positive for FI; that agency completed a phone call to the participant for resource provision within 2 weeks. RESULTS: Among the 1818 participants recruited, 20.6% (375) screened positive for FI, consistent with the area's reported child FI rate. Of those who screened positive, 54.9% (206) opted to receive a direct-referral via phone call to a food resource agency, and 35.9% (74) of these were reached by phone. About 31.1% (23) of those contacted were no longer interested in food resource referrals, 10.8% (8) were signed up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and 59.5% (44) were referred to local food pantries. CONCLUSIONS: Through hospital-community partnership in an initial attempt to screen and offer direct-referral for FI, we elicited considerable interest among families for connection to resource agencies. However, there was a substantial gap between referral acceptance and ultimate connection with the resource agency stemming from 2 major sources: inability to re-contact and loss of interest after contact.
BACKGROUND: Pediatric health care institutions are increasingly implementing food insecurity (FI) screens, but there is limited information about participant interest in referral and engagement with resources provided. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we recruited participants from a consecutive sample of adult caregivers arriving with pediatric patients in the emergency department at an urban, freestanding children's hospital. Caregivers completed a validated, 2-question screen for FI. All participants received a list of food access resources. Direct referral to a partnered community food resource agency was offered to those who screened positive for FI; that agency completed a phone call to the participant for resource provision within 2 weeks. RESULTS: Among the 1818 participants recruited, 20.6% (375) screened positive for FI, consistent with the area's reported child FI rate. Of those who screened positive, 54.9% (206) opted to receive a direct-referral via phone call to a food resource agency, and 35.9% (74) of these were reached by phone. About 31.1% (23) of those contacted were no longer interested in food resource referrals, 10.8% (8) were signed up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and 59.5% (44) were referred to local food pantries. CONCLUSIONS: Through hospital-community partnership in an initial attempt to screen and offer direct-referral for FI, we elicited considerable interest among families for connection to resource agencies. However, there was a substantial gap between referral acceptance and ultimate connection with the resource agency stemming from 2 major sources: inability to re-contact and loss of interest after contact.
Authors: Erin R Hager; Anna M Quigg; Maureen M Black; Sharon M Coleman; Timothy Heeren; Ruth Rose-Jacobs; John T Cook; Stephanie A Ettinger de Cuba; Patrick H Casey; Mariana Chilton; Diana B Cutts; Alan F Meyers; Deborah A Frank Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Lisa B Signorello; Margaret K Hargreaves; Mark D Steinwandel; Wei Zheng; Qiuyin Cai; David G Schlundt; Maciej S Buchowski; Carolyne W Arnold; Joseph K McLaughlin; William J Blot Journal: J Natl Med Assoc Date: 2005-07 Impact factor: 1.798
Authors: Arvin Garg; Arlene M Butz; Paul H Dworkin; Rooti A Lewis; Richard E Thompson; Janet R Serwint Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: John T Cook; Deborah A Frank; Carol Berkowitz; Maureen M Black; Patrick H Casey; Diana B Cutts; Alan F Meyers; Nieves Zaldivar; Anne Skalicky; Suzette Levenson; Tim Heeren; Mark Nord Journal: J Nutr Date: 2004-06 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Ingrid L Tablazon; Deepak Palakshappa; Faith C O'Brian; Brenda Ramirez; Joseph A Skelton; Laurie W Albertini; Kimberly G Montez Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2021-08-06 Impact factor: 2.993