Houser Zachary L, Lyden Elizabeth, Koukol Claire C, Parks Courtney A
Department of Growth and Development, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
J Public Health Dent. 2024 Dec;84(4):420-427. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12642. Epub 2024 Sep 3.
This study assesses the needs and feasibility of conducting a produce prescription (produce Rx) program in a pediatric dental clinic setting serving low-income patients.
We conducted a cross-sectional quantitative survey examining several household characteristics including demographics, benefits received, fruit and vegetable intake patterns, food security, feasibility of a produce Rx program, and respondents' answers to questions based on social cognitive theory constructs. The survey was administered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) pediatric dental clinic, a pediatric dental residency clinical training site. One hundred adult respondents with low income completed a 36-item questionnaire during their child's dental appointment.
Almost half of respondents reported experiencing food insecurity (45%). Respondents who were food insecure experienced higher levels of nutrition insecurity (p = 0.012), less confidence in choosing fruits and vegetables (FVs) (p = 0.026), difficulty in purchasing FVs in their neighborhood (p = 0.012), and more concern that FVs cost too much (p < 0.001) when compared to respondents who were food secure. Notwithstanding the barriers they face, almost all respondents reported that they eat FVs because of health benefits (95%) and to set a good example for their family (91%). Additionally, most respondents expressed an interest in produce Rx programs (80%) and nutrition education activities (81%).
This study demonstrated the potential for produce Rx program uptake in a pediatric dental clinic setting through positive caregiver-reported need and interest. Future studies should explore how produce Rx programs can be adapted most effectively in this novel setting.
本研究评估在为低收入患者服务的儿科牙科诊所开展农产品处方（produce Rx）项目的需求和可行性。
我们进行了一项横断面定量调查，考察了几个家庭特征，包括人口统计学特征、所获得的福利、水果和蔬菜摄入模式、食品安全、农产品处方项目的可行性，以及受访者基于社会认知理论构建对问题的回答。该调查在内布拉斯加大学医学中心（UNMC）儿科牙科诊所进行，这是一个儿科牙科住院医师临床培训地点。100名低收入成年受访者在其孩子看牙期间完成了一份36项的问卷。
近一半的受访者报告经历过粮食不安全（45%）。与粮食安全的受访者相比，粮食不安全的受访者经历了更高水平的营养不安全（p = 0.012），在选择水果和蔬菜（FV）方面信心较低（p = 0.026），在其社区购买FV有困难（p = 0.012），并且更担心FV成本过高（p < 0.001）。尽管面临这些障碍，几乎所有受访者都报告说他们吃FV是因为对健康有益（95%）以及为家人树立好榜样（91%）。此外，大多数受访者对农产品处方项目（80%）和营养教育活动（81%）表示感兴趣。
本研究通过照顾者报告的积极需求和兴趣，证明了在儿科牙科诊所开展农产品处方项目的潜力。未来的研究应探索如何在这种新环境中最有效地调整农产品处方项目。
