scholarly journals A Novel Peer Mentor Model for Nutrition Education within a Food Pantry

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Lynn Oliver ◽  
Amy McKeever ◽  
Rebecca Shenkman ◽  
Lisa K. Diewald
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Peer Mentors ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Peer Mentor ◽  
Mentor Model

Abstract Background: Food insecurity disproportionately affects groups of Americans and is a social determinant of health that deems one at risk for comorbidities. Food insecurity is defined as reduced access to a sufficient quantity and quality of food, which limits the variety or desirability of one’s diet. Unfortunately, this hidden and silent epidemic in the United States continues to rise and is at an all-time high rate, with one in six children being affected, 13 million children and a total of 41.2 million Americans. As a result, emergency food pantries (EFPs) are challenged with the dual role of providing food to combat hunger, but also being conscious of the health concerns of their clients such as chronic illness and obesity. Methods: “Community Cooks” was a peer mentor model program implemented to deliver nutrition education, skills in basic cooking techniques, healthy eating principles, and easily prepared recipes relying on foods available within an EFP. Eleven peer mentors were recruited and trained over six months to deliver a series of live workshops open to all community members. Results: After six months, peer mentor retention rate was 85%, and qualitative focus group findings suggest that peer mentors had the desire to remain part of “Community Cooks” program. Conclusion: The use of a peer mentor model of delivering nutrition education within an EFP is a valuable and sustainable approach to target the food insecure and underserved population.

scholarly journals Successes and Challenges of Using a Peer Mentor Model for Nutrition Education within a Food Pantry: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Lynn Oliver ◽  
Amy McKeever ◽  
Rebecca Shenkman ◽  
Lisa K. Diewald
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Peer Mentors ◽  
Peer Mentor ◽  
Food Pantry ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Successes And Challenges ◽  
Mentor Model

Abstract Background: Delivering nutrition education within an emergency food pantry (EFP) provides an opportunity to reach many food insecure households and underserved populations. However, little is known about using a peer mentor model, “Community Cooks,” as a modality to deliver nutrition education within this setting. This research aimed to identify the successes and challenges of using a peer mentor model within an EFP to better understand the best approaches to deliver nutrition education among community residents.Methods: In spring 2018, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven peer mentors after they delivered a series of nutrition workshops to community members of the EFP. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.Results: All peer mentors were women over 40 years-of-age, were recruited from the EFP community; most were high school graduates and currently received some form of federal nutrition assistance. All peer mentors reported that the “Community Cooks” nutrition education program offered many benefits. Key successes of the program included serving in the role as a peer mentor was an empowering experience which gave them a sense of community, purpose, and camaraderie; 2) the nutrition education was appropriately tailored towards those living with food insecurity; 3) the recipes required minimal cooking skills and included low-cost easily accessible foods available at the EFP. Key challenges of the program were the lack of community member engagement in the nutrition education workshops. Conclusion: Challenges continue to exist when delivering nutrition education within a community EFP setting. While the use of peer mentors to deliver nutrition education messages is promising, more research is needed to quantify the impact of using a peer mentor model in underserved and food insecure communities.

scholarly journals Successes and Challenges of Using a Peer Mentor Model for Nutrition Education within a Food Pantry: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Lynn Oliver ◽  
Amy McKeever ◽  
Rebecca Shenkman ◽  
Lisa K. Diewald
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Peer Mentors ◽  
Peer Mentor ◽  
Food Pantry ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Successes And Challenges ◽  
Mentor Model

Abstract Background: Delivering nutrition education within an emergency food pantry (EFP) is a valuable and sustainable approach to target food insecure and underserved populations. However, little is known about using a peer mentor model, “ Community Cooks,” as a modality to deliver nutrition education within this setting. This research aimed to identify the successes and challenges of using a peer mentor model within an EFP to better understand the best approaches to deliver nutrition education among community residents. Methods: In spring 2018, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven peer mentors after they delivered a series of nutrition workshops to community members of the EFP. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: All peer mentors were women over 40 years-of-age, were recruited from the EFP community; most were high school graduates and currently received some form of federal nutrition assistance. All peer mentors reported that the “Community Cooks” nutrition education program offered many benefits. Key successes of the program included serving in the role as a peer mentor was an empowering experience which gave them a sense of community, purpose, and camaraderie; 2) the nutrition education was appropriately tailored towards those living with food insecurity; 3) the recipes required minimal cooking skills and included low-cost easily accessible foods available at the EFP. Key challenges of the program were the lack of community member engagement in the nutrition education workshops. Conclusion: Challenges continue to exist when delivering nutrition education within a community EFP setting. While the use of peer mentors to deliver nutrition education messages is promising, more research is needed to quantify the impact of using a peer mentor model in underserved and food insecure communities.

The Application of Peer Mentoring to Improve Fitness in Older Adults

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandor Dorgo ◽  
George A. King ◽  
Gregory D. Brickey
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Peer Mentoring ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Peer Mentors ◽  
Participation Rates ◽  
Peer Mentor ◽  
Fitness Program ◽  
Student Mentors ◽  
Fitness Measures ◽  
Mentor Model

Purpose:To investigate the effectiveness of a peer-mentored exercise program, this study compared the program perception, retention and participation rates, and physical improvements of older adults trained by peer mentors (PMs) with those of a group trained by student mentors (SMs).Methods:After a 30-week peer-mentor preparation, 60 older adults (M±SDage: 68.7 ± 6.1 yr) were recruited and randomly assigned to either the PM or the SM group. Both groups completed an identical 14-week fitness program. Pre- and posttraining assessments of fitness were completed, and the efficacy of the PMs and SMs was surveyed.Results:High retention was observed in both groups, but the SM group had higher participation. Both groups improved their fitness significantly, with no significant posttest differences between the groups in most fitness measures or in program perception rates.Discussion:Findings suggest effectiveness of the peer-mentor model in an older adult exercise program.

scholarly journals Examining Rural Food-Insecure Families’ Perceptions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6390
Author(s):  
Lindsey Haynes-Maslow ◽  
Annie Hardison-Moody ◽  
Megan Patton-Lopez ◽  
T. Elaine Prewitt ◽  
Carmen Byker Shanks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
The United States ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Funding Formulas ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical program that helps reduce the risk of food insecurity, yet little is known about how SNAP addresses the needs of rural, food-insecure residents in the United States (U.S.). This study examines how rural, food-insecure residents perceive SNAP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 153 individuals living in six diverse rural regions of Arkansas, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia. SNAP was described as a crucial stop-gap program, keeping families from experiencing persistent food insecurity, making food dollars stretch when the family budget is tight, and helping them purchase healthier foods. For many rural residents interviewed, SNAP was viewed in a largely positive light. In efforts to continue improving SNAP, particularly in light of its relevance during and post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, policymakers must be aware of rural families’ perceptions of SNAP. Specific improvements may include increased transparency regarding funding formulas, budgeting and nutrition education for recipients, effective training to improve customer service, connections among social service agencies within a community, and increased availability of automation to streamline application processes.

scholarly journals Diet Quality, Nutritional Adequacy, and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Mobile Food Pantry Users in Northeastern Connecticut

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1099
Author(s):  
Dalia Marmash ◽  
Kyungho Ha ◽  
Junichi R. Sakaki ◽  
Isabella Gorski ◽  
Brazil Rule ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Added Sugar ◽  
Food Pantry ◽  
Dietary Record

Poor diet quality among low-income populations is a major contributing factor to their poor health and wellbeing, and thus is a focus of many government aid programs. Mobile food pantries are an increasingly popular method of emergency food assistance, targeting the communities most affected by food insecurity; however, little is known about the dietary characteristics of mobile food pantry users. This study aims to characterize the diet quality and nutrient adequacy level and examine its association with sociodemographic characteristics among mobile food pantry users in Windham County, Connecticut. Surveys to assess food insecurity, diet composition, and sociodemographic characteristics were administered to 83 adult food pantry users. Participants (n = 40) completed a three-day dietary record for analysis of diet quality, and were found to have inadequate intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy, as well as some related micronutrients. At least 30% of participants had intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for vitamins A, C, E, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and folate. Intakes of added sugar, sugar sweetened beverages, and saturated fat were also above recommendations according to the United States Dietary Guidelines. Certain sociodemographic factors affected diet quality among this sample. For example, being male was associated with increased sugar-sweetened beverage and added sugar intake. This characterization of mobile pantry users will serve as a reference for developing nutrition education and determining the effectiveness of future interventions.

scholarly journals Effect of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) on food security and dietary outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 903-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L Rivera ◽  
Melissa K Maulding ◽  
Heather A Eicher-Miller
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Study Designs

AbstractThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) is the nutrition promotion component of SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. SNAP-Ed assists low-income populations in the United States improve dietary intake and reduce food insecurity through nutrition education. This narrative review summarizes current investigations of SNAP-Ed’s effectiveness at improving food security and dietary outcomes, and it can help inform future policy and implementation of the program. There was stronger evidence for SNAP-Ed as an effective means of improving food security (n = 4 reports) than for its effects on nutrition or dietary outcomes (n = 10 reports). Inconsistency in measurement tools and outcomes and a lack of strong study designs characterized the studies that sought to evaluate the effectiveness of SNAP-Ed at improving nutrition or dietary outcomes. Additional rigorous study designs in diverse population groups are needed to strengthen the evidence. In the face of reduced financial SNAP benefits, SNAP-Ed may play an important role in helping to eliminate food insecurity and improve dietary outcomes and, ultimately, the health of low-income Americans.

Understanding Food Security as a Social Determinant of Diabetes-Related Health during Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Gomez ◽  
Julia D. DiTosto ◽  
Charlotte M. Niznik ◽  
Lynn M. Yee
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Impact

Gestational and pregestational diabetes during pregnancy are substantial and growing public health issues. Low-income individuals and individuals who identify as racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected. Food security, which is defined as the degree to which individuals have capacity to access and obtain food, is at the center of nutritional resources and decisions for individuals with diabetes. While increasingly recognized as an important mediator of health disparities in the United States, food insecurity is understudied during pregnancy and specifically among pregnant individuals with diabetes, for whom the impact of food-related resources may be even greater. Previous research has suggested that food insecurity is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnoses and disease exacerbation in the general adult population. An emerging body of research has suggested that food insecurity during pregnancy is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus diagnoses and adverse diabetes-related outcomes. Additionally, food insecurity during pregnancy may be associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Future research and clinical work should aim to further examine these relationships and subsequently develop evidence-based interventions to improve diabetes-related outcomes among pregnant individuals with food insecurity. The purpose of this article is to offer a working definition of food security, briefly review issues of food insecurity and diabetes, summarize research on food insecurity and diabetes-related pregnancy health, and discuss clinical recommendations and areas for future investigation. Key Points

Development and validation of risk stratification models for adult spinal deformity surgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferran Pellisé ◽  
Miquel Serra-Burriel ◽  
Justin S. Smith ◽  
Sleiman Haddad ◽  
Michael P. Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Deformity ◽  
Adult Spinal Deformity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Prognostic Models ◽  
Time To Event ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Event Risk ◽  
Risk Estimates

OBJECTIVEAdult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery has a high rate of major complications (MCs). Public information about adverse outcomes is currently limited to registry average estimates. The object of this study was to assess the incidence of adverse events after ASD surgery, and to develop and validate a prognostic tool for the time-to-event risk of MC, hospital readmission (RA), and unplanned reoperation (RO).METHODSTwo models per outcome, created with a random survival forest algorithm, were trained in an 80% random split and tested in the remaining 20%. Two independent prospective multicenter ASD databases, originating from the European continent and the United States, were queried, merged, and analyzed. ASD patients surgically treated by 57 surgeons at 23 sites in 5 countries in the period from 2008 to 2016 were included in the analysis.RESULTSThe final sample consisted of 1612 ASD patients: mean (standard deviation) age 56.7 (17.4) years, 76.6% women, 10.4 (4.3) fused vertebral levels, 55.1% of patients with pelvic fixation, 2047.9 observation-years. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that 12.1% of patients had at least one MC at 10 days after surgery; 21.5%, at 90 days; and 36%, at 2 years. Discrimination, measured as the concordance statistic, was up to 71.7% (95% CI 68%–75%) in the development sample for the postoperative complications model. Surgical invasiveness, age, magnitude of deformity, and frailty were the strongest predictors of MCs. Individual cumulative risk estimates at 2 years ranged from 3.9% to 74.1% for MCs, from 3.17% to 44.2% for RAs, and from 2.67% to 51.9% for ROs.CONCLUSIONSThe creation of accurate prognostic models for the occurrence and timing of MCs, RAs, and ROs following ASD surgery is possible. The presented variability in patient risk profiles alongside the discrimination and calibration of the models highlights the potential benefits of obtaining time-to-event risk estimates for patients and clinicians.

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