From Aisles to Action: Training Health Professionals to Tackle Food Insecurity Collaboratively

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.