"This Program has Given Me the Proper Nutrition that I Deserve": Participant Perspective on a Medically Tailored Meal...

ObjectiveDiet-related disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Medically tailored meals are one intervention that can address diet-related disease. We sought to help inform two key aspects of medically tailored meal program design: 1) should the meals be provided for a focal individual alone, or for the entire household? And 2) does a dedicated delivery driver promote reduced loneliness compared with using a commercial shipper?MethodsQualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews of purposively selected participants in the Food as Medicine for Families (FAME-F) randomized clinical trial. 25 interviews were conducted between May 2024 - January 2025. We conducted a thematic analysis to analyze the data. Transcripts were coded by three independent coders who met to compare and reconcile any coding discrepancies. Code reports were generated for each code and narrative summaries were written.ResultsParticipants were overall enthusiastic about the intervention, and they felt the intervention improved multiple aspects of health. Food preferences were an important determinant of satisfaction with the meals. Participants did not clearly see benefits to the 'feed the family' approach, noting that because medically tailored meals are tailored to a specific individual's needs, they may not accord with other household members' preferences, and that the household budget space freed up by providing meals can allow other household members to purchase food they prefer. Participants also did not perceive clear benefits for the 'dedicated driver' approach, noting little interaction with the driver.ConclusionsMedically tailored meals can help people improve health by overcoming barriers to healthy eating. Results provide reassurance that providing medically tailored meals for a focal individual can lead to meaningful dietary improvement in spite of potential for under-dosing if meals are shared, and that delivery approach can be selected based on logistical considerations.