An exploration of patient and pharmacist willingness to utilize a food insecurity screening tool in supermarket-based...

Food insecurity (FI) is a disturbance of eating patterns due to lack of resources, preventing consistent access to healthy foods. FI negatively impacts health outcomes and increases care cost.

The primary objective was to (a) explore patient willingness to screen with the 2-question Hunger Vital Sign tool and (b) accept education regarding food assistance programs at their community pharmacy. The secondary objective was to gauge pharmacy personnel's comfort with utilizing the screener and providing education.

Screenings occurred from February to May 2023 at supermarket-based pharmacies in counties above state average FI prevalence.

This study evaluated responses to a 9-item FI screening questionnaire that was offered to patients presenting to the pharmacy. Personnel offered patients education about resources and documented responses. Pharmacies provided survey responses to detail their experiences.

This mixed-methods observational pilot study received approval from Idaho State University's institutional review board. Objective 1(a) was assessed by recording the number of patients agreeing or declining to participate. Objective 1(b) was evaluated by recording the number of patients who accepted education. The secondary objective was appraised by gathering survey responses from personnel. Results were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

Of patients asked to participate, 163 (73.1%) agreed. Forty-one agreed but did not submit responses. Of patients agreeing, 123 (75.5%) accepted education. Of patients submitting responses, 56 (49.5%) screened as at-risk for FI. Regarding comfort engaging in the innovation, 4 pharmacies (50.0%) reported being comfortable, 3 (37.5%) neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, and 1 (12.5%) uncomfortable. Qualitative information collected from personnel highlighted meaningful interactions and how this will change their approach to pharmacy practice.

Supermarket-based pharmacists may be able to detect and educate on FI. Patients in the study screened at a higher rate of at-risk for FI than their counties reported. Many patients accepted education regardless of screening results.