Linking Food Insecure Patients With Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Trigg, Daniel Orlins

Item

Linking Food Insecure Patients With Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Trigg, Daniel Orlins

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract

Food insecurity screening is needed to link food insecure patients to interventions that will help improve their nutrition and overall health such as annual community supported agriculture (CSA) shares. In Vermont, food insecurity is widespread, as 76% of Vermonters experience some level of food insecurity. This has serious health consequences. Food insecure patients are more likely to suffer from hypertension and diabetes than non-food insecure patients. Clinicians need to screen for and detect food insecurity. Several methods are available, yet clinician awareness varies. Providers can rely upon predictive metrics that utilize patient characteristics or simple question-based screening tools. This study found that physicians and physician assistants are prefer to screen for food insecurity using an established 2-item screen. However, they tend to underestimate the prevalence of food insecurity in the community in which they practice.