Food: A Three-Arm Study Examining Food Insecurity Interventions

Launched by MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER · May 18, 2012

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at ways to help cancer patients who struggle to get enough food, a problem known as food insecurity. Researchers want to find out which of three different food assistance programs is most effective in supporting these patients: a food pantry located in the hospital, monthly food vouchers for groceries, or weekly grocery delivery services. The goal is to see if these options can help patients stay on track with their cancer treatments by ensuring they have enough to eat.

To participate in this trial, you need to be at least 18 years old, currently receiving treatment for breast or gynecologic cancer, and experiencing food insecurity. Participants will be randomly placed in one of the three food assistance groups. This means everyone has an equal chance of being in any group, similar to flipping a coin. If you join, you can expect to receive support tailored to your needs and help researchers understand how best to assist patients like you in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• Focus Groups Inclusion Criteria:
• • Breast cancer patient, Stage 1,2, or 3
• • Currently undergoing treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation
• • Food insecure: score in the range of "very low" or "low" food security status on the USDA Household Food Security Module (score of 3 or higher)
• • Language spoken: English or Spanish
• • Age 18 or over
• Intervention Inclusion Criteria:
• • Enrolled in ICCAN (for the original arms only: pantry only, pantry + delivery, pantry + voucher)
• • Within one month (+/- 1 month) of starting chemotherapy or within two weeks (+/- 2 weeks) of starting radiation therapy) (may be prior to or after starting treatment)
• • Score in the range of 'very low' or 'low' food security status on the USDA Household Food Security Module (score of 3 or higher)
• • Living independently (no patient in an assisted living facility)
• • Age 18 or over
• • Able to provide informed consent and respond to questionnaires in either English, Spanish or Mandarin (Mandarin for the original arms only: pantry only, pantry + delivery, pantry + voucher)
• • Breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis, Stage 1, 2, or 3 (for the updated arms only: 1) Food Voucher Program (Voucher); 2) Home Grocery Delivery Program (Delivery); and 3) Medically-tailored, Hospital-based Food Pantry (Pantry)
• Clinician is eligible if he/she:
• • Has an MD or DO degree
• • Is the treating physician providing care to a patient enrolled to the study
• Secondary Aim 6 Needs Assessment eligibility criteria:
• • Current or past breast cancer diagnosis
• • Living independently (no patient in an assisted living facility)
• • Age 18 or over
• • Able to provide informed consent and respond to questionnaires in either English, or Spanish
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Focus Groups Exclusion Criteria:
• • Has a household member who has already participated (or agreed to participate)
• Intervention Exclusion Criteria:
• • Significant psychiatric disturbance verified by medical record sufficient to preclude completion of the assessment measures, interview or informed consent (i.e. acute psychiatric symptoms which require individual treatment)
• • Presence of cognitive impairment disorder (i.e. delirium or dementia) sufficient to preclude meaningful informed consent and/or data collection
• • Can not speak English, Spanish or Mandarin (Mandarin for the original arms only: pantry only, pantry + delivery, pantry + voucher)
• • Has physical limitations that would prevent participation (e.g. blindness)
• • Patient's household is currently receiving or applying for SNAP benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps) (for the original arms only: pantry only, pantry + delivery,pantry + voucher)
• Secondary Aim 6 Needs Assessment Exclusion criteria:
• • Significant psychiatric disturbance verified by medical record enough to preclude completion of the assessment measures, interview or informed consent (i.e. acute psychiatric symptoms which require individual treatment)
• • Presence of cognitive impairment disorder (i.e. delirium or dementia) enough to preclude meaningful informed consent and/or data collection
• • Cannot speak English or Spanish
• • Has physical limitations that would prevent participation (e.g. blindness)
• • Patient or family member has participated in other MSK IHCD trials related to social determinants of health