Feasibility of Medically Tailored Meals for Pediatric Populations at Risk for Disparities in Serious Illness Outcomes Due to Inequities in Social Drivers of Health (MTM-Kids)
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Summary
The purpose of this project is to learn whether an intervention that provides households with home-delivered healthy, frozen meals tailored to illness related conditions for 12 weeks during a child's treatment for serious illness is feasible and acceptable to the child and parent mainly responsible for the child's care.
Description
Food insecurity (uncertainty about having enough food for the household) and nutrition insecurity (uncertainty about access and affordability of foods that promotes health and quality of life \[QOL\]) are clinically-relevant, actionable social drivers of health (SDOH) disparities for pediatric (age 0-17.9 years) populations. Food and nutrition insecurity are especially relevant in pediatric populations vulnerable to disparities in outcomes of serious illnesses (life-threatening illnesses with taxing symptoms, treatments, and caregiving requirements). Pediatric cancer is an example. Children li…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 12–99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: Eligible children (n=15) will: * be under the care of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology * have completed at least one cycle of cancer chemotherapy that included an agent known to cause alterations in taste, * expect to undergo at least two more cycles, * be aged 12-17.9 years * communicate in English or Spanish. Eligible adults (n=15) will: * be the primary parental caregiver of a study-eligible child, * be aged 18 years or older * communicate in English or Spanish. Ex…
Interventions
- OtherMedically tailored meals
The intervention will be 12-weeks in duration, with "doses" (meal deliveries) of up to 10 healthy, frozen meals per week for household use as needed, plus selected condiments for personalization
Location
- North Carolina Basnight Cancer HospitalChapel Hill, North Carolina