Lightning Talk
From Aisles to Action: Training Health Professionals to Tackle Food Insecurity Collaboratively
Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm CDT
Background: Food insecurity (FI) is a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. In 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households met criteria for FI. Arkansas ranks worst at 18.9%. Assistance benefits provide $2.06/person/meal, but the average meal costs $3.55/person. Aside from economics, many individuals in rural areas experience FI due to living in food deserts with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Healthcare providers are often unaware of patients’/families’ FI, and evidence-based recommendations (DASH, Mediterranean diet) can seem overwhelming for FI patients.
We created a Quadruple Aim (QA) focused interprofessional workshop to integrate FI knowledge with patient-centered communication and collaboration. This project highlights the IP Collaboration and Advocacy to Advance the Health of Individuals, Families, and Communities theme as a teaching model to maximize health and address health-related social needs among marginalized or underserved populations including rural populations. Learning objectives were: increase knowledge of FI incidence and assessment, identify resources to access foods that support healthy eating, and create an affordable, DASH-based one-day menu for a family of three.
Methods: The activity had 5 elements: Orientation to workshop goals and background information (FI, DASH diet, assistance programs, USDA-approved assessment questions) (20 min), case introduction, meal planning worksheet, photos of aisles in a rural convenience/grocery store as the source of groceries/supplies/pricing, example tools to determine nutritional breakdown of meals (15 min), IP small group work to create meal plans (60 min), group reports (30 min), debrief process/takeaways (20 min). Evaluation included: Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS), 5-pt Likert evaluation for learning objectives/workshop format/case study, and open response questions.
Results: The event has been hosted twice (Zoom, in-person). Students (n=115) from health professions (35), medicine (28), nursing (33), pharmacy (7), public health (11), and graduate school (1) attended. All ICCAS metrics increased pre-/post-activity. Likert scores indicated the workshop increased knowledge of other professions (4.2), improved teamwork skills (4.3), and applied IPEC competencies (4.4). Students agreed the QA framing had a positive effect on their attitude toward IPE (4.2) and meal planning helped organize/develop a team care plan (4.2) and demonstrated value of team-based education/research (4.3). Qualitative themes addressed: interprofessional collaboration, teamwork and communication, real-world application, SDOH, and reflective learning.
Conclusions: This interprofessional workshop advanced knowledge, attitudes, and perceived future practice regarding identification of and recognition for the impact of FI on health goals. The practical meal plan exercise resonated with patient considerations for communication and collaboration.
Accreditation Details
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (National Center OICPD). The National Center OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
The National Center OICPD (JA#: 4008105) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs).
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Learners can claim CE credit by completing the Daily Evaluation.