View clinical trials related to Food Security.
Filter by:The adverse consequences of illicit opioid use (e.g., overdose, premature death) are the focus of intensive research efforts. However, other serious health problems among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have received far less attention. Food insecurity (FI) is 4-7 times greater among individuals with OUD than the general population. In addition to the increased healthcare utilization and costs, poor health outcomes, and adverse social consequences associated with FI in the general population, patients with co-occurring FI and OUD are at increased risk for licit and illicit drug use, sexual and drug risk behaviors, infectious disease, and a two-fold greater odds of premature death. In this randomized pilot study, we evaluated a novel, mail-based meal delivery intervention for improving household FI and other outcomes among individuals receiving methadone or buprenorphine maintenance for OUD. Fifty adults with FI and OUD were randomized to one of two 12-week experimental conditions: Nutritional Education (NE) participants received brief education, a list of FI-related resources in their community, and assistance with contacting those resources. NE + Meal Delivery (NE+MD) participants received the same educational platform plus weekly meal deliveries using a commercial service that delivers premade, refrigerated meals directly to the participant's home. The primary outcome of household FI was measured at monthly assessments using the USDA Household Food Security Survey. Secondary measures included depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), quality of life (RAND-36 Quality of Life Survey), and drug use as measured by biochemical urinalysis. The NE+MD intervention was associated with significant improvements in household FI, with fewer NE+MD participants meeting criteria for FI vs. NE participants at all three assessment timepoints (p's<.05). Retention rates were similar between the two groups (88% and 84% for NE+MD and NE conditions, respectively; p=.68). Intervention acceptability was also high, with NE+MD participants rating the enjoyment and convenience of the meals at 81 and 93, respectively (range: 0-100). Changes in FI status were also associated with improvements in other areas of functioning. NE+MD participants experienced reductions in depression symptomatology, with Beck Depression Inventory scores lower than intake at Weeks 4 and 8 (p's<.05) and no changes among NE participants. NE+MD participants also experienced improvements on four of the eight subscales of the RAND-36 Quality of Life Health Survey (i.e., General Health, Bodily Pain, Mental Health, Role Emotional; p's<.05), with no changes among NE participants. This study represents the first effort to develop and evaluate a novel intervention to reduce FI and related problems among individuals with OUD. These pilot data support the feasibility, acceptability and initial efficacy of the NE+MD intervention for improving household FI, as well as provide exciting new preliminary evidence suggesting that FI may be linked to participants' mental and physical health.
The earned income tax credit (EITC) is the largest United States poverty alleviation program, providing up to $6,600 for working families as a tax refund. Prior studies have shown the EITC's benefits for social outcomes and health. Effects are even more significant for single mothers and Black women. Despite these known benefits, 20%-33% of eligible individuals do not receive benefits, leaving $7 billion unclaimed annually. The Targeting Access and Knowledge of EITC Utilization and Policies (TAKE-UP) Study is a pilot randomized controlled trial that will develop and test the feasibility of several culturally tailored, scalable interventions to increase the take-up of the EITC among participants in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
The primary objectives of this study are to determine whether the transition to online ordering at a choice-based food pantry network influences food security status among low-income adults and determining whether there are differences in impact by age group.
This pilot and feasibility study will collect information from food insecure, as well as food secure, women with obesity to detail their desires and needs for healthy weight reduction. Up to 60 women with obesity will be enrolled. Pennington Biomedical Research Center will coordinate this qualitative study and use focus groups discussion to collect formative data.
The specific aims of this pilot study are: Aim 1) To identify whether no prep ready to eat meals (intervention) or ingredient bundles (control) have higher client acceptability, liking, satisfaction, and perceived diet quality ratings. Aim 2) To identify whether no prep ready to eat meals (intervention) or ingredient bundles (control) have higher feasibility ratings with food pantry staff. Exploratory Aim) To identify whether no prep ready to meals (intervention) or ingredient bundles (control) lead to greater improvements in food security, perceived diet quality, and fruit and vegetable consumption.
This study aims to improve maternal, neonatal and infant health outcomes through an integrated community-based intervention package in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.
Fresh Families is a research study being conducted by the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory at the UT Dept of Nutrition. The purpose of this study is to see which food provision strategy, paper vouchers or home delivery, best increases fruit and vegetable (FV) availability at home and child FV intake. The study will enroll families experiencing household food insecurity with children 4-17 years who do not meet recommendations for FV intake and have an adult caregiver (18+ years) willing to participate. Families will be randomized to one of two groups: voucher group or home delivery group. Families in the voucher group will be provided 6, $15 paper vouchers ($90 total) for the purchase of fresh FV at a partnering Food City location in Knoxville, TN. Families in the home delivery group will be provided access to an online Food City account to purchase up to $90 fresh FV for home delivery, delivered by research staff at the time of their choosing. Each group will have 6 weeks to utilize their vouchers/funds, and then they will expire. There will also be one appointment to collect child and caregiver height and weight at the family's home.
The long-term goal of FRESH Delivers is to fill a critical gap in knowledge on the role of a home-based food delivery social intervention in the elimination of tobacco-caused cancer health disparities. The central hypothesis is that smokers who receive real-time video-based motivational counseling and home-based food deliveries will have greater cotinine-verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence than those who receive real-time video-based motivational counseling alone or home food delivery alone. The rationale for this approach is that studies show increased odds of smoking cessation with increasing food security.
More than a dozen states have proposed or plan to implement work requirements in Medicaid, and similar requirements already exist nationally in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), yet evidence on the effects of these policies is limited. In cooperation with the state of Virginia, the investigators plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial studying the impacts of work requirements in public programs on insurance coverage, SNAP participation, employment, and health, with a particular focus on changes in racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in these outcomes. The COVID-19 epidemic and concurrent economic downturn creates additional urgency around these issues, and the investigators will use a combination of national administrative data and a new population survey to assess disparities in employment, health care, and food insecurity during this crisis.
Diabetes prevalence is increasing among people living with HIV (PLWH), yet blood glucose control is less successful in this population who are also often food insecure. Food assistance programs often provide nutrient-poor foods. This proposal asses the feasibility of monitoring diabetes-related health outcomes among food insecure PLWH who are receiving food boxes higher in dietary protein and fiber and lower in simple carbohydrates.