The Effect of Food Insecurity Training on Knowledge, Awareness, Screening, and Intervention Practices within Two Pediatric Wards at an Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Background and Introduction • Food insecurity is a major driver of preventable disease. Providers can screen to identify patients at risk for food insecurity using a two-question survey tool called “The Hunger Vital Sign”. Screening barriers identified in the literature include lack of provider knowledge, comfort, and capacity for effective intervention. Addressing this provider knowledge gap through training is essential for implementing robust and sustainable clinical food insecurity screening practices. • This study aims to evaluate the effect of food insecurity education on providers’ knowledge and awareness of food insecurity and their likelihood to screen and make referrals for at-risk patients, as well as to encourage healthcare providers to foster a culture of food insecurity screening and intervention in their practices. Objectives 1. To determine providers’ knowledge of food insecurity and awareness of referral practices and resources to help patients experiencing food insecurity. 2. To determine if providers’ participation in formal food insecurity training influences their likelihood of incorporating food insecurity screening into their patient interviews. 3. To determine if providers’ action following a positive screen is affected by participating in food insecurity training.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1285/thumbnail.jp