Assessing Food Insecurity in Medical Students.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Nutrition Security

Background:

• Food insecurity, defined as unreliable access to sufficient, affordable, nutritious food, affects 11.1% of the general population.
• This issue has not been previously assessed in medical students, a group susceptible to burnout and depression.
• Understanding food insecurity in medical students is crucial for developing targeted interventions to enhance their overall well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of food insecurity among medical students.
• To identify the primary factors contributing to food insecurity within this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A survey utilizing the US Household Food Security Survey Module: Six-Item Short Form was emailed to 588 medical students at a Northeastern medical school.
• The questionnaire assessed food insecurity over the preceding three months and explored potential contributing factors.
• A response rate of 22.4% was achieved.

Main Results:

• Food insecurity was identified in 11.8% of the surveyed medical students.
• The most frequently cited reasons for food insecurity were difficulty accessing a store (33.9%) and insufficient funds (30.4%).

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of food insecurity among medical students may mirror that of the general population.
• While this study focused on one institution, the findings likely have broader applicability to other medical schools.
• Implementing interventions to mitigate food insecurity is essential for improving medical student wellness.