292022
Screening for food insecurity in primary care
Jenna Arruda,
University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Logan Bartram,
University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Bruno Cardoso,
University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Andrew Jones,
University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Introduction: Hunger Free VT (HFVT) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end the injustice of hunger and malnutrition for all Vermonters. HFVT developed an internet-based Continuing Medical Education (CME) course in order to bring awareness to the issue of food insecurity and enhance medical provider training. The CME course entitled Childhood Hunger in Vermont: The Hidden Impacts on Health, Development, and Wellbeing was started by 59 health care providers in VT but only completed by 4. Objective: Our objective was three-fold 1) to gain an understanding of why registered users did not complete the course, 2) to investigate patient perspectives and experience on the topic of food insecurity and 3) to develop recommendations for HFVT that will increase participation and completion rates of their CME course. Methods: Our objectives were accomplished through the use of online surveys for registered course users, paper questionnaires for parents in pediatric offices, and a focus group for nurses and physicians. Results: Survey participants found the CME course to be valuable, but lengthy. Focus group participants stated that they would prefer for information about food insecurity screening to be delivered in-person. Findings from the survey, questionnaire, and focus group suggest that few patients are being asked about food insecurity by their healthcare providers. Conclusions: Providers cite length of appointments and sensitivity of the topic as the biggest barriers to screening. Incorporating questions about food insecurity into office intake forms in primary care settings would identify patients who would benefit from available community resources.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the use of an internet-based CME course to raise awareness and enhance health care provider training around food insecurity
Describe the methods used to accomplish project goals
Identify barriers and preferences for education in the areas of food insecurity by health providers
Formulate strategies to incorporate screening questions about food insecurity into primary care office practice
Keyword(s): Food Security, Primary Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was actively involved the project including all aspects of design and implmentation and writing and presentation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
