O5 Evaluation of a Food Insecurity Screen and Intervene Program in University Student Health Centers

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a food insecurity screen and intervene program in a university student health setting. Use of Theory or Research While food insecurity is a significant problem for many college students, connecting students to available on-campus resources has proved challenging. Target Audience Food insecure college students who use university health care services. Program Description Students visiting university health centers were screened for food insecurity (FI) using a 2-item screener embedded in a larger questionnaire administered online prior to students’ first appointment of the academic year. FI students were referred to on-campus food resources; specifically, they were given a “prescription” postcard with information about the student food pantry and Dean of Students office. Evaluation Methods We used a mixed-method evaluation, including semi-structured qualitative interviews with health services staff and clinicians (n = 18), and with FI students who were identified through the screener process (n = 8). In addition, we matched data from students who completed the FI screener (n = 5804) with on-campus food support usage. Results Out of over 11,000 students who had an appointment with student health services, approximately 50% completed the FI screener. Among those who screened, 563 (9.7%) were FI. Among the FI students, 55 (9.7%) used the food pantry and 124 (22%) used the Dean of Students office during the study period. Health care practitioners reported largely positive impressions of the program, including ease of use and perceived value, while also raising issues of language barriers and potential bias in the screener interpretation process. Student interviews identified ways in which practitioner and student perceptions of the program both overlapped and diverged. Conclusion This program was well-received by university health care practitioners and students, and, while many of the referred FI students used the on-campus supports, there is room for improvement in encouraging FI students to use available resources. Funding None.