Qualitative Perceptions of an Anticipated Fresh Food Prescription Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutrition Science
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Food insecurity (FI) is a significant public health issue.
• Produce prescriptions show promise in improving diet quality and reducing FI.
• Incorporating community perspectives into program design is crucial but understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perspectives of individuals at risk for FI.
• To understand the potential impact of a fresh food prescription (FFRx) program.
• To gather community voice for FFRx program implementation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study conducted by an academic medical center and community partners.
• Focus groups held with Latinx (N=16) and African-American (N=8) adults in community settings.
• Inductive thematic analysis used for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Fresh food accessibility is influenced by cost, household size, and transportation, but improved by food pantries and education.
• Cooking behaviors are affected by time and unfamiliarity but supported by passion and tradition.
• Health barriers include unhealthy diets due to cultural norms, while weight loss and comorbidity awareness are motivators. Participants favored local produce and cooking classes, but noted stigma concerns.

Conclusions:

• There is community interest in FFRx programs and learning healthy food preparation.
• FFRx programs offering fresh produce and education can address identified gaps in vulnerable communities.
• Addressing barriers like cost, stigma, and incorporating cultural preferences is key for FFRx success.