Nutrition OUtReach In Systems of Healthcare
University of Kansas Medical Center
Summary
Many children and adults receiving medical treatments have higher costs, which can make it harder for them to afford groceries. When someone can't afford enough food, and they do not receive proper nutrition it can make treatment more difficult. By doing this study investigators hope to learn more about whether addressing food insecurity by giving patients bags of food in clinic can help improve nutrition, reduce costs, and improve transplant and cellular therapy outcomes.
Description
Food insecurity (FI), defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life due to insufficient money or other resources, affects 17 million (12.8%) of American households. FI is exacerbated in patients with complex medical conditions, and it is associated with worse health outcomes and increased healthcare utilization and costs. Strategies to address FI such as home-delivered meals or food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and food banks/pantries/pharmacies may improve healthcare outcom…