Comparison of Produce Prescription Benefit Dosage
- Conditions
- Food Insecurity
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Monetary benefit to purchase fruits and vegetables
- Registration Number
- NCT05978843
- Lead Sponsor
- University of California, San Francisco
- Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to determine the relationship between produce prescription program 'dose' on benefit redemption, food insecurity, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Participants will be randomized to receive one of three fruit and vegetable benefit dose amounts for 6 months ($40, $80, or $110/month).
- Detailed Description
Emerging evidence from the growing body of research around 'Food is Medicine' interventions shows promise that produce prescriptions (PPR) improve health by enabling purchases of healthy foods, reducing food insecurity, and improving diet quality. However, PPR amounts are often set seemingly arbitrarily, without clear connection to their intended purpose. In this study, investigators will conduct a three-armed randomized trial of 240 participants in Stockton, CA to test the impact of three 'doses' of a fruit and vegetable benefit on benefit redemption, food security, and fruit and vegetable intake. The goal of this study is to determine the relationship between PPR program 'dose' and the key intermediate outcomes of benefit redemption (primary outcome), food insecurity, and consumption of incentivized foods (secondary outcomes). Investigators will also seek to identify any 'ceiling effect' above which further increases in benefit value do not lead to further benefit redemption. This will be highly informative for subsequent PPR research. Investigators will leverage the existing infrastructure of the Vouchers 4 Veggies - EatSF produce prescription program to ensure feasibility.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 242
- Individual enrolled in a First Five Program at El Concilio California, located in Stockton, CA
- Age 18+
- English or Spanish speaking
- Literacy sufficient to complete a written survey
- Technologic capacity to complete an online survey
- non English or Spanish speaking
- cognitive impairment severe enough to interfere with understanding of the survey or consent form, whether due to cognitive delay, substance abuse, dementia, mental illness, or other etiologies
- Not enrolled in a First Five Program at El Concilio California
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Arm 1 - 10% TFP Monetary benefit to purchase fruits and vegetables Participants will receive $40/month in fruit and vegetable benefits for 6 months ($240 total). Arm 3 - 30% TFP Monetary benefit to purchase fruits and vegetables Participants will receive $110/month in fruit and vegetable benefits for 6 months ($660). Arm 2 - 20% TFP Monetary benefit to purchase fruits and vegetables Participants will receive $80/month in fruit and vegetable benefits for 6 months ($480 total).
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Benefit redemption Monthly for 6 months Dollar amount of benefits redeemed (numerator) over total dollar amount of benefits distributed (denominator)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Fruit and vegetable consumption 0, 3, and 6 months Measured by NCI Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ) and reported in cup-equivalents, a higher score indicates greater fruit and vegetable intake (better outcome)
Food security status 0, 3, and 6 months Measured by USDA 6-item food security module, scale of 0-6, a higher score indicates more severe food insecurity (worse outcome); Scores converted to Rasch measurement scale, scale of 0-8.48, a higher score indicates more severe food insecurity
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of California, San Francisco
🇺🇸San Francisco, California, United States