MedPath

Fresh Food Farmacy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Type 2 Diabetes
Interventions
Other: Fresh Food Farmacy
Registration Number
NCT03718832
Lead Sponsor
John B Bulger, DO
Brief Summary

This trial investigates the value created by the highly innovative Fresh Food Farmacy (FFF) program at Geisinger Health. The program provides food-insecure diabetics with healthy food for their entire household: at least two meals per day, five days a week. The program also provides education on how to prepare the food, and education on healthy living including diabetes self management. The research measures the effects of the FFF program on patient health and wellbeing.

Detailed Description

This is a pragmatic, prospective, randomized controlled trial of Geisinger's Fresh Food Farmacy (FFF) program as the program expands to new sites. Qualifying subjects will be randomized 1:1 to receive either early participation in the FFF program (treatment group) or later participation (control group).

Approximately 500 Geisinger subjects will participate in this study with about half assigned to the treatment group and about half to the control group. The treatment group will begin the program soon after trial recruitment: the "Begin Now" group. The control group will begin the program after 6 months: the "Begin Later" group. Approximately 2000 household members will be included in the data-only portion of the research.

Outcomes will include clinical measures, such as HbA1c, survey responses including self-assessed health measures, and utilization / healthy-behavior measures from EHR and paid claims data. These will be measured for subjects and their household members.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
500
Inclusion Criteria
  • Type II Diabetes and an HbA1c ≥ 8.0 as determined by the most recent measurement in the Geisinger EMR within the prior 12 months
  • Food insecure based on a two-question survey instrument
  • Age > 17 & Age <86
  • Living within geographic reach of the program (Lewistown, PA and Scranton, PA)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Already enrolled in FFF in Shamokin

  • Not English speaking (working on changing this as the program evolves)

  • On hospice or palliative care

  • Acute or chronic psychosis

  • Resides in a facility which provides meals

  • Active medical disorder that would preclude participation in the classes, weekly clinic visits, or result in a limited diet, including:

    • Cancer; active treatment
    • Steroid dependent asthma/ COPD/ emphysema
    • Steroid dependent Colitis
    • Chronic Kidney Disease with GFR< 30 mg/mmol
    • Celiac disease
    • Cirrhosis
    • Steroid dependent arthritis

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Treatment Group-Begin NowFresh Food FarmacyGroup 1- Will be randomized to the treatment ("Begin Now") group for the Fresh Food Farmacy program. Subjects will be consented to join the FFF study prior to learning their program start date. They will join the FFF program right away when the program opens in their geographic area. Data will be collected during the first 12 months of subject participation and EHR and claims data may be analyzed for an additional 12 month follow-up period (24 months in total).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
HbA1cMeasured at 6 months after trial enrollment

HbA1c measures blood sugar control

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
LDL Cholesterol6 months and 12 months

LDL Cholesterol

HbA1cMeasured at 12 months after trial enrollment for all subjects and at 3 months for those whose measurements are available.

HbA1c measures blood sugar control over the prior three months

Fasting glucose6 months and 12 months

Fasting glucose measures blood sugar control over a shorter time horizon

Patient survey questions on self-assessed health, wellbeing, attitudes toward healthy behavior, self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction6 months and 12 months

Survey questions for the research study will be examined individually and in groups of questions.

Healthcare utilization3 months, 6 months and 12 months

Heatlhcare utilization, including inpatient, ED and outpatient measures in patients' paid claims

Weight6 months and 12 months

Weight in pounds

Body Mass Index6 months and 12 months

Body Mass Index in kg/m\^2

Total Cholesterol6 months and 12 months

Total Cholesterol

Triglycerides6 months and 12 months

Triglycerides

Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic)6 months and 12 months

Blood pressure

Healthy behaviors observed in electronic health record6 months and 12 months

Healthy behaviors observed in electronic health record, including preventive care and appointments kept

Healthy behaviors observed in paid claims HEDIS measures6 months and 12 months

HEDIS measures of preventive care

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Fresh Food Farmacy

🇺🇸

Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States

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