Assessment of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program in the Northern Manhattan Community. Issue 6 (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abel, Dori; Drucker, Gabriela; Leander, Rose; Huber, Cheryl; Nieto, Andres; Hulse, Emma; Kannan, Nandini; Rausch, John C.
• Is Part Of: American journal of health promotion. Volume 36:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1014
• Page End: 1018
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health Promotion; Health promotion; Periodicals; Periodicals; 613.05
• DOI: 10.1177/08901171221076778
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-1171

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess whether produce prescription redemption was associated with food insecurity (FI), sociodemographics, and nutrition-related health measures, and to identify factors affecting participation. Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Patients, equally divided between groups who redeemed and did not redeem prescriptions, completed a follow-up survey. Setting: Northern Manhattan, NY. Subjects: 242 patients referred to Nutrition at an academic medical center between June and November 2019. Intervention: All patients referred to Nutrition received prescriptions for produce at local Greenmarkets (patients with FI received $20; other patients received $10). Measures: We assessed patient satisfaction and factors impacting participation. Sociodemographics and nutrition-related health measures were extracted from medical records. Analysis: The χ2 test for categorical data and Student's t-test for continuous variables. Results: Prescription redeemers were significantly more likely to be very satisfied with the program ( P < .001), have FI ( P < .01), and have elevated hemoglobin A1C than non-redeemers (6.3 vs 5.5%, P < .001). Distance, time constraints, and forgetting or losing the prescription were common barriers, while convenience and valuing healthy eating facilitated redemption. Conclusion: Higher FI and worse hemoglobin A1c in patients who redeemed prescriptions suggests that our program reaches the target audience: patients needing food assistance and a healthier diet. Awareness of barriers offers areas for improvement. This provides a feasible model for hospital investment to increase access to produce to improve health and health equity.