(P02-067-25) Understanding the Experiences of Patients With Food Insecurity Who Requested Social Assistance Through a Large Academic Medical Center

Objectives: Screening for health-related social needs has become widespread in clinical settings. However, research suggests only a fraction of patients with unmet social needs actually engage with social assistance efforts. The goal of this study was to understand the experiences of patients with food insecurity who connected with social workers for food-related assistance at a large academic medical center. This study also explored patient-proposed strategies to optimize the healthcare system’s role in addressing food insecurity.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 28 adult primary care patients at a large academic medical center in southeast Michigan. Eligible participants met the following criteria: 1) ≥20 years; 2) English-speaking; 3) completed social risk factor screening between January 2021 and December 2022; 4) a positive screen for food insecurity using the Hunger Vital Sign; and 5) documented interest in seeking social assistance. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the general inductive approach to reveal emergent themes.

Results: The mean age was 48.8 years; 86% were female, and 68% were non-Hispanic White. At the time of the interview, 68% had very low food security. Results yielded mixed experiences with social workers providing social assistance. Some patients shared positive experiences and found resource referrals to be beneficial, while other patients found referred resources to be inaccessible, unhelpful or expressed there was insufficient communication with the social workers. Three main themes surfaced in patient-suggested improvements for healthcare system based social assistance programs: 1) making the social risk factor screening process more identifiable and improving communication, 2) providing more accessible and immediate forms of food resources, and 3) providing resources targeting other social factors associated with food insecurity.

Conclusions: Improvement is needed for patients to reap greater benefits from healthcare system social assistance programs. Such improvements include better program organization and communication as well as offering more accessible and immediate forms of food and social assistance.

Funding Sources: This study was supported by Grant Number P30DK092926 (MCDTR) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.