(P02-036-25) Kansas City Racial and Ethnic Approach to Community Health: Exploring the Food Is Medicine Landscape Within Kansas City

Objectives: This study aims to explore the current Food is Medicine (FiM) landscape within the Kansas City metropolitan. Exploration includes the pilot testing of a FiM coding scheme using the layers of the FiM pyramid.

Methods: The study uses a cross-sectional research design to distribute an electronic survey to community organizations engaged in FiM work. Sampling uses a mix of purposeful convenience and snowball sampling. The survey assesses program components (e.g. participant eligibility criteria) and community organization roles. Analysis of the survey consists of descriptive statistics and the development and analysis of a FiM coding scheme using the FiM pyramid. Each layer of the pyramid was defined and associated constructs within the layers (e.g. Food distribution method) were established. Questions associated with those constructs were developed and organizations were assigned into one of five categories based on the coding scheme.

Results: This study is ongoing, and findings are preliminary. Surveys were completed from 11 community organizations. Of the respondents, 82% reported screening participants, and of those, 63% screen for food insecurity and 50% chronic diseases diagnosis. Among programs that screen for chronic disease diagnosis, 100% screen for type 2 diabetes, 50% hypertension, and 25% hyperlipidemia. Just over half of programs report utilizing direct referral (55%) or self-select enrollment (55%). The primary way food is distributed is through a prepared produce bag (40%), followed by retail food incentives/vouchers (20%). Most respondents identified their role as an oversight organization (70%). Using the FiM coding scheme, 10% of programs were classified as medically tailored meals, 30% medically tailored meal packages/groceries, 30% produce prescription, 10% federal food programs, and 20% population-level food policies.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the nuance of FiM programs in practice. To the researcher’s knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to pilot a FiM coding scheme based on the FiM pyramid. The survey developed in this study could be used in other communities to further assess the FiM landscape.

Funding Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health.