Heuer Jacquelyn N, Bradley Sarah E, Hahm Bridget, Pettey Kristin, Besterman-Dahan Karen
Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center of Innovation, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Center for Healthcare Outcomes & Policy (CHOP) Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Community Health Equity Res Policy. 2024 Oct 15:2752535X241292108. doi: 10.1177/2752535X241292108.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employs numerous strategies to address food insecurity among rural veterans. This manuscript discusses findings from a quality improvement project examining factors impacting food insecurity among rural veterans.
Qualitative interviews were conducted with VA expert informants (n = 30) who worked in national program offices addressing veteran food insecurity, site visit participants (n = 57) at three VA Medical Centers (VAMCs), and rural veterans who screened positive for food insecurity at the VAMC sites (n = 10). Interviews were analyzed with analysis matrices.
Current VA programming includes a national food insecurity screening initiative and connecting veterans with local community resources. Veteran participants provided suggestions for addressing veteran food insecurity, including outreach and education. In addition, these interviews demonstrate that rural veteran food insecurity is intrinsically interwoven with other social determinants of health.
Addressing rural veteran food insecurity must include strategies for understanding and supporting interconnected veteran needs.
美国退伍军人事务部(VA)采用多种策略来解决农村退伍军人的粮食不安全问题。本手稿讨论了一个质量改进项目的结果,该项目研究了影响农村退伍军人粮食不安全的因素。
对在国家项目办公室工作、负责解决退伍军人粮食不安全问题的VA专家 informant(n = 30)、三个VA医疗中心(VAMC)的实地考察参与者(n = 57)以及在VAMC站点粮食不安全筛查呈阳性的农村退伍军人(n = 10)进行了定性访谈。采用分析矩阵对访谈进行分析。
当前的VA项目包括一项全国性的粮食不安全筛查倡议,以及将退伍军人与当地社区资源联系起来。退伍军人参与者提出了应对退伍军人粮食不安全问题的建议,包括外展和教育。此外,这些访谈表明,农村退伍军人的粮食不安全与其他健康社会决定因素有着内在的交织。
解决农村退伍军人的粮食不安全问题必须包括理解和支持退伍军人相互关联需求的策略。