Catherine Kress1, Jaya Durvasula1, Andrea Knievel1, Amanda M Honsvall Hoefler2, Lynn P Manning3, Donald J Pine4, Deborah Mullen5, Allyson Hayward4. 1. HealthPartners Western Wisconsin Rural Family Medicine Residency, Amery and New Richmond, WI. 2. Department of Family Medicine, Division of Sports Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. 3. University of Minnesota Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, St Louis Park, MN. 4. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, St. Louis Park, MN. 5. Gary W. Rollins College of Business, Department of Management, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity (FI), defined as "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways," affects over 12% of US households. Embarrassment persists for patients with FI, and due to the potential consequences of FI, including increased utilization of the health care system, it is important to find causes and potential interventions for FI. The purpose of this project was to better understand FI from the patient perspective, including contributing factors, perceived health effects, and helpful interventions. METHODS: Interviews (N=21) were conducted with suburban community residency clinic patients who screened positive for FI in the last 12 months. Six open-ended questions and a ranking question examined contributors to FI, effects of FI, perceptions of clinic intervention helpfulness, and ideas for novel interventions. RESULTS: Patients identified lack of income (85.7%) as the primary issue they faced. Secondary identified issues were lack of transportation (38.1%), too much debt (33.3%), and food assistance programs not providing for all needs (33.3%). FI effects on patients' health included difficulty adhering to specialized diets and the need to modify eating patterns due to lack of food. Surprisingly, 28.6% perceived no FI related-health effects. Patients felt that the most valuable clinic intervention was provision of urgent need food boxes, followed by FI screening and referrals to community food resources. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent FI screening is in itself useful to patients. Screening paired with community food resource referrals and urgent-need food boxes are the most helpful interventions according to patients.
INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity (FI), defined as "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways," affects over 12% of US households. Embarrassment persists for patients with FI, and due to the potential consequences of FI, including increased utilization of the health care system, it is important to find causes and potential interventions for FI. The purpose of this project was to better understand FI from the patient perspective, including contributing factors, perceived health effects, and helpful interventions. METHODS: Interviews (N=21) were conducted with suburban community residency clinic patients who screened positive for FI in the last 12 months. Six open-ended questions and a ranking question examined contributors to FI, effects of FI, perceptions of clinic intervention helpfulness, and ideas for novel interventions. RESULTS: Patients identified lack of income (85.7%) as the primary issue they faced. Secondary identified issues were lack of transportation (38.1%), too much debt (33.3%), and food assistance programs not providing for all needs (33.3%). FI effects on patients' health included difficulty adhering to specialized diets and the need to modify eating patterns due to lack of food. Surprisingly, 28.6% perceived no FI related-health effects. Patients felt that the most valuable clinic intervention was provision of urgent need food boxes, followed by FI screening and referrals to community food resources. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent FI screening is in itself useful to patients. Screening paired with community food resource referrals and urgent-need food boxes are the most helpful interventions according to patients.
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: Oluwaseun O Acquah; Amanda M Honsvall Hoefler; Isaac Zoller; Lynn P Manning; Donald J Pine; Richard F Mitchell Journal: PRiMER Date: 2020-02-21