Exploring Perceptions of a Fresh Food Prescription Program during COVID-19

Rachel Zimmer (), Ashley Strahley, Jane Weiss, Sheena McNeill, Allison S. McBride, Scott Best, David Harrison and Kimberly Montez
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Rachel Zimmer: Department of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
Ashley Strahley: Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
Jane Weiss: BestHealth, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
Sheena McNeill: Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
Allison S. McBride: Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
Scott Best: H.O.P.E. of Winston Salem, Winston Salem, NC 27106, USA
David Harrison: New Communion, Winston Salem, NC 27105, USA
Kimberly Montez: Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: This qualitative study aimed to elicit the perspectives of individuals with food insecurity (FI) who were enrolled in a Fresh Food Prescription (FFRx) delivery program through a collaboration between an academic medical center and multiple community partners in the southeastern United States. Semi-structured interviews and open-ended survey responses explored the experiences of participants enrolled in a FFRx delivery program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interviews probed the shopping habits, food security, experience, and impact of the program on nutrition, health, and well-being; the surveys explored the perceptions of and satisfaction with the program. A coding scheme was developed inductively, and a thematic analysis was conducted on raw narrative data using Atlas.ti 8.4 to sort and manage the data. The themes included that the program promoted healthy dietary habits, improved access to high-quality foods, improved well-being, enhanced financial well-being, and alleviated logistical barriers to accessing food and cooking. Participants provided suggestions for FFRx improvement. Future studies may facilitate improved clinical–community partnerships to address FI.

Keywords: food insecurity; qualitative research; food prescription; produce prescription; food access; older adults; social determinants of health; COM-B model; wellness; health promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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