Background: Primary care practices often screen for food insecurity. However, short-term patient outcomes after screening are not well understood. We used a mixed-methods approach to examine satisfaction with screening and connection to resources among adults screening positive for food insecurity at two Western Slope federally qualified health centers.
Methods: Patients completed REDCap surveys on food assistance resource referrals and usage at three timepoints: identification of food insecurity, one, and three months later. Interviews were conducted with a subset of survey respondents using a semi-structured guide and were analyzed via rapid qualitative analysis.
Results: Thirty-four patients completed surveys and 18 also participated in interviews. Among survey respondents, 69% reported receiving a referral to food assistance programs. Of those referred, 75% rated referrals as ‘very helpful’ and 25% as ‘a little bit helpful.’ At baseline, 25% of respondents reported current use of the Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) and 28% reported past use. At months one and three respectively, 39% and 36% reported current use of SNAP. At baseline, 34% reported current use of community food pantries and 34% reported past use, increasing to 40% at one month and 42% at three months. Topics emerging from key informant interviews included: limited recall of screening processes but no specific objections; few new resources received following screening; patients in acute medical or socio-economic crisis recalled attention to social needs more clearly; and inability of current community options to meet needs due to barriers such as pantry schedules, dietary needs, and transportation.
Implications: Screening for food insecurity can identify needs, but existing resources may be insufficient. Healthcare and community organizations may need to deepen collaboration and communication to advocate for policies and funding that increase availability and accessibility of food assistance resources.
