Assessing the Impact of Implementing the 'Eat Well' Produce Prescription for Veterans At-Risk of Food Insecurity With a Diet-Sensitive Chronic Condition: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial
Institute for Medical Research, Inc.
Summary
This project, conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VHA), will study how a produce prescription (PRx) program called "Eat Well" affects Veterans' health and how often they use healthcare services. About 1 in 4 Veteran households experience food insecurity (FI), which means they do not have reliable access to safe and healthy food. FI can make health worse in many ways, especially for people with conditions like diabetes that need a healthy diet. It also leads to higher healthcare costs. A PRx program, like Eat Well, helps by giving people money or vouchers to buy fruits and vegetables. We will enroll 1,500 eligible Veterans in North Carolina who will be randomized to receive Eat Well for 6-months, Eat Well for 12-months, or the standard of care. This research will help us learn important information about using produce prescriptions as a proven way to improve food security.
Description
Food insecurity (FI), or the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, is common among Veteran households (approximately 1 in 4). FI worsens health across multiple dimensions, particularly for those with related diet-sensitive cardiometabolic conditions (e.g., diabetes) and is associated with higher healthcare costs. A produce prescription (PRx) program is an evidence-based food security intervention that reduces cost barriers to healthy food purchases by providing a regular subsidy for fruits and vegetables. PRx programs improve food security, diet, and healt…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Food Insecurity Risk 2. Hypertension AND diabetes or obesity 3. Hospitalization, ED visit, OR outpatient visit in the past 12-months 4. NC resident 5. Valid email address Exclusion Criteria: * Living in a nursing home or residential facility where meals are prepared
Interventions
- BehavioralEat Well 6-months
Participants will receive $100/month of Eat Well benefits for 6- months and instructions on enrolling in existing VA programs designed to improve health self-management and nutrition education.
- BehavioralEat Well 12-months
Participants will receive $100/month of Eat Well benefits for 12-months and instructions on enrolling in existing VA programs designed to improve health self-management and nutrition education.
Location
- Durham VA Health Care SystemDurham, North Carolina