Faculty mentor/PI email address
vaughnn@rowan.edu
Keywords
food assistance programs, food security, nutritional assessment, feasibility study, diabetes mellitus
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Objective: Primary purpose of this study was to determine the potential impact of FBRx versus standard of care (SoC) on dietary intake and health outcomes. Design: Quasi-experimental 2-group design, with pre- and post- data using the EHR to capture biometrics, food insecurity, and dietary behavior from participants over the intervention. Setting: Hospital-based food pantry program connected community resources Participants: 587 enrolled participants, 304 in intervention group and 283 in SoC group. Inclusion criteria: screened positive for food insecurity and at least 1 documented chronic condition. Intervention: FBRx participants received $30 per month in produce vouchers for 6 months; SoC participants received a $75 gift card upon survey completion. Variables Measured: Primary outcome-change in daily average fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. Secondary outcomes-change in food security, change in hemoglobin A1c in those with diabetes mellitus and change in the proportion of individuals with controlled blood pressure. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize aggregate study data, continuous variables were analyzed using two-sample t-tests, and categorical variables were assessed using χ² tests. Results: While modest increases in fruit and vegetable intake were seen in both groups, the difference was not statistically meaningful. Both groups may have contributed to slight improvements in dietary behavior, though the added benefit of the FBRx program was not clearly distinguishable. Conclusions & Implications: Further interventions are warranted across different populations (i.e., disease groups) which may lead to meaningful implications and improved health outcomes.
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition | Medicine and Health Sciences
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons
A Quasi-experimental study to examine the Food Bucks Rx Program for Food Insecure Patients with Chronic Conditions in a Hospital Outpatient Setting
Objective: Primary purpose of this study was to determine the potential impact of FBRx versus standard of care (SoC) on dietary intake and health outcomes. Design: Quasi-experimental 2-group design, with pre- and post- data using the EHR to capture biometrics, food insecurity, and dietary behavior from participants over the intervention. Setting: Hospital-based food pantry program connected community resources Participants: 587 enrolled participants, 304 in intervention group and 283 in SoC group. Inclusion criteria: screened positive for food insecurity and at least 1 documented chronic condition. Intervention: FBRx participants received $30 per month in produce vouchers for 6 months; SoC participants received a $75 gift card upon survey completion. Variables Measured: Primary outcome-change in daily average fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. Secondary outcomes-change in food security, change in hemoglobin A1c in those with diabetes mellitus and change in the proportion of individuals with controlled blood pressure. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize aggregate study data, continuous variables were analyzed using two-sample t-tests, and categorical variables were assessed using χ² tests. Results: While modest increases in fruit and vegetable intake were seen in both groups, the difference was not statistically meaningful. Both groups may have contributed to slight improvements in dietary behavior, though the added benefit of the FBRx program was not clearly distinguishable. Conclusions & Implications: Further interventions are warranted across different populations (i.e., disease groups) which may lead to meaningful implications and improved health outcomes.