A Multilevel Intervention in the Hunger Relief Network to Improve Diet Among Adults Experiencing Food Insecurity

Food Selection Clinical Trial

— SuperShelf  

Official title:

A Multilevel Intervention in the Hunger Relief Network to Improve Diet Among Adults Experiencing Food Insecurity

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Terminated

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03421106
• Other study ID #: H20-0076
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 5, 2018
• Est. completion date: November 16, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: May 2022
• Source: University of Connecticut
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The investigator proposes an evaluation of a randomized, sustainable intervention in 8 intervention and 8 control pantries. We will enroll a sample clients at the food pantry at baseline and follow them for 1 year to assess changes in overall diet quality (the primary outcome) and cardiovascular health. We will also enroll a sample of clients at follow-up to assess to assess the nutritional quality of food selected at the pantry.

Description:

Evaluate the health impact of an intervention targeting the hunger relief network and the clients with food insecurity it serves. The long-term goal of this work is to reduce nutrition-related health disparities by intervening on a system that serves individuals at high risk for chronic disease. In 2014, an estimated 14% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity (i.e., they lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members). Large numbers of low-income, racial/ethnic minority, and immigrant families who experience food insecurity rely on a hunger relief network that includes food banks and food pantries. Pantry clients have demonstrated poor nutritional outcomes, high chronic disease rates, and dissatisfaction with the quality and cultural-appropriateness of food offered. Unlike other food assistance programs, there are currently no standards on the nutritional quality of pantry offerings, but recent work by our study team demonstrated the need to improve the healthfulness of hunger relief network inventory. We proposed an evaluation of a randomized, sustainable intervention in 8 intervention and 8 control pantries. We will enroll clients at baseline and follow them for 1 year to assess changes in overall diet quality (the primary outcome). Working with our food bank partners, the intervention at the pantry level targets the supply of nutritious foods. At the client level, the intervention targets healthy food demand. Measured outcomes include overall diet quality (the primary outcome), as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI), the nutritional quality of foods selected at the food shelf visit, and cardiovascular disease health (assessed by the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 scores). The study will also evaluate the impact of a multilevel intervention on the nutritional quality of pantry offerings. The study also aims to improve implementation of practices that promote a nutrition-focused hunger relief network.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Terminated
• Enrollment: 504
• Est. completion date: November 16, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: September 1, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 99 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

-=18 years old

• Mentally capable of consent and participation

• Speak English, Spanish, or Somali

• Have access to a phone

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not capable of consent or participation

• Speak only languages other than English, Spanish or Somali

• Not a food pantry user

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Food Selection

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Intervention Food Pantries
Food pantries will receive consulting services to transform their food offerings and environment in order to influence client health behaviors.

Other:
• Control Food Pantries
Normal food pantry use

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Minnesota	Minneapolis	Minnesota

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Connecticut

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Overall Diet Quality of Clients	Assessed by Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores (scale 0-100), with 100 representing the best possible score (i.e., nutritional quality best aligned with Dietary Guidelines for Americans)	Baseline, 1 year
Secondary	Nutritional Quality of Food Selected by Clients at the Food Pantry	Assessed by Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores (scale 0-100), with 100 representing the best possible score (i.e., nutritional quality best aligned with Dietary Guidelines for Americans)	1 year post-sample comparison
Secondary	Cardiovascular Health	American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) scores (scale 0 -7), with 7 representing the best possible score for cardiovascular health	Baseline, 1 year