(P20-028-24) A Mixed-Method Assessment of Nutrition-Related Behavior Change in Participants of a Produce Prescription Intervention

Objectives: A produce prescription (PRx) intervention began in 2019 at 2 pediatric primary care clinics in collaboration with community-based partners in Washington DC. The aim of the PRx is to provide greater access to healthy food and nutrition education to families at risk of diet-related chronic disease. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the intervention on nutrition-related behaviors in households with children.

Methods: A mixed-method analysis of the longitudinal intervention was conducted between November 2021 and December 2022. Adult caregivers who screened positive for food insecurity were recruited by clinicians during well child visits for patients aged 0-18 years old. Enrolled families received 8 pounds of produce and virtual nutrition education twice monthly for 6 months. Adult caregivers completed self-report surveys at baseline and post-intervention. We report demographics and the individual pre-post change in Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA) survey scores, which was tested for statistical significance by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Adult caregivers were interviewed to understand their experiences, attitudes, and behaviors related to home food preparation, consumption, and shopping. A subset of interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed to identify salient themes.

Results: Eighty-two families were enrolled in the PRx. FNPA scores increased post-intervention (p < 0.05), indicating improvements in nutrition-related behaviors after participation in the intervention. A total of 28 interviews were analyzed before saturation. Three salient themes were identified: (1) participants perceived behavior changes related to improved nutrition (2) behavior change was facilitated by the produce deliveries and nutrition education, and (3) ongoing barriers may prevent sustainability of healthy habits.

Conclusions: A PRx that offers produce and nutrition education can facilitate nutrition-related behavior change in adult caregivers and their children but sustainability of these positive lifestyle changes may be limited. Future studies should investigate the optimal mechanisms of delivery and integration of PRx initiatives within the healthcare setting, including long-term support from Registered Dietitians.

Funding Sources: Vitamix, Morningstar, USDA