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Giles EL, Eskandari F, McGeechan G, Scott S, Lake AA, Teasdale S, Ekers D, Augustine A, Le Savauge N, Lynch C, Moore H, Smith J. Food insecurity in adults with severe mental illness living in Northern England: Peer research interview findings. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024; 33:671-682. [PMID: 38059552 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Food insecurity means that a person does not have access to sufficient nutritious food for normal growth and health. Food insecurity can lead to many health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other long term health conditions. People living with a severe mental illness are more likely to experience food insecurity than people without mental illness. Peer-led in-depth interviews were conducted with adults with severe mental illness from Northern England, during which their experiences of food insecurity and strategies to tackle food insecurity were discussed. Interviews took place between March and December 2022, with interviews being transcribed and analysed using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Thirteen interviews were conducted, finding that food insecurity in adults with severe mental illness was often a long-standing issue. Unemployment, the cost-of-living crisis and fuel poverty impacted on experiences of food insecurity. Difficulties accessing food banks such as transport, stigma, and the limited selection of available food was also discussed. Strategies to tackle food insecurity centred on making food banks more accessible and improving the quality of available food. Future research should aim to eradicate food insecurity for adults with severe mental illness, as limited research and action focuses on this population group over and above 'mental illness' or 'poor mental health'. Removing barriers to accessing food such as lack of transport, and providing food which is of adequate nutritional quality, should be prioritised, as well as tackling the stigma and accessibility issues surrounding food banks use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Giles
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Fatemeh Eskandari
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Grant McGeechan
- Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Centre for Applied Psychological Science, School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Steph Scott
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Amelia A Lake
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Scott Teasdale
- Discipline of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Ekers
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York (Mental Health and Addictions Research Group), York, UK
- Flatts Lane Centre, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Flatts Lane, Normanby, Tees Valley, Middlesbrough, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Jo Smith
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Flatts Lane Centre, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Flatts Lane, Normanby, Tees Valley, Middlesbrough, UK
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Mossenson S, Giglia R, Pulker CE, Dhaliwal SS, Chester M, Bigwood R, Pollard CM. The Nutritional Quality of Food Donated to a Western Australian Food Bank. Nutrients 2024; 16:509. [PMID: 38398833 PMCID: PMC10891512 DOI: 10.3390/nu16040509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Food banks provide an indispensable service to people experiencing severe food insecurity. Food banks source donations from across the food system; however, the food redistributed to clients across the developed world is nutritionally poor. This, together with the increasing prevalence of diet-related diseases and food insecurity, has prompted a focus on nutritional quality. Despite more food being distributed via food banks in Australia, the nutritional quality of donated food remains unreported. This study analyzed all food (84,996 kg (1216 products)) donated to Foodbank WA over a 5-day period using diet-, food-, and nutrient-based nutrition classification schemes (NCSs). A total of 42% (27% of total weight) of donated food products were deemed 'unsuitable' and 19% (23% by weight) were 'suitable' according to all NCSs. There was no agreement on 39% of products (50% by weight). Overall, NOVA and the Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines (HERNG) (κ = 0.521) had the highest level of agreement and the ADGs and HERNGs the lowest (κ = 0.329). The findings confirm the poor nutritional quality of food donated to food banks and the need to work with donors to improve the food they donate. Fit-for-purpose nutrition guidelines are urgently needed for Australian food banks to support them in providing nutritious food to their vulnerable clients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharonna Mossenson
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent St, Perth 6102, Australia
| | - Roslyn Giglia
- Foodbank of Western Australia, Perth Airport, Perth 6105, Australia
| | - Claire E. Pulker
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent St, Perth 6102, Australia
- East Metropolitan Health Service, Murray Street, Perth 6004, Australia
| | - Satvinder S. Dhaliwal
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent St, Perth 6102, Australia
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Office of the Provost, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore 599494, Singapore
| | - Miranda Chester
- Foodbank of Western Australia, Perth Airport, Perth 6105, Australia
| | - Ruby Bigwood
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent St, Perth 6102, Australia
| | - Christina M. Pollard
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent St, Perth 6102, Australia
- Enable Institute, Curtin University, Kent St, Perth 6102, Australia
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Curtin University, Kent St, Perth 6102, Australia
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Esmaeilidouki A, Rambe M, Ardestani-Jaafari A, Li E, Marcolin B. Food bank operations: review of operation research methods and challenges during COVID-19. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1783. [PMID: 37710215 PMCID: PMC10500768 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16269-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Food banks have played a crucial role in mitigating food insecurity in affluent countries for over four decades. Throughout the years, academics have researched food banks for a variety of operational problems, resulting in several research papers on the topic. However, despite significant academic interest, the operational challenges and optimization of food bank operations remain under-researched. This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on food bank operations and provide evidence-based recommendations for addressing prevalent challenges, and provide decision-makers with practical recommendations. In addition, this investigation seeks to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food bank operations. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of academic publications on food bank operations using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) in order to get a deeper comprehension of the problems confronting food bank operations. Using a keyword search strategy with the logical operators "AND" and "OR," two search methods were utilized to identify relevant articles on food bank operations management, supply chain, distribution, and production in our first search. In our second search, we discovered articles in the "Operations Research & Management Science" (OR &MS) category of Web of Science containing food bank-related keywords such as food charity, food donation, and food aid. The database searches yielded 246 hits, and the article content was scanned to eliminate irrelevant articles by removing non-English articles and duplicated studies, leaving 55 articles for further examination. Our extensive examination of Operations Research (OR) methodologies reveals that Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) models are the most commonly used methodology, followed by Linear Program (LP), Dynamic Program (DP), and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques. The key findings of this study emphasize the operational challenges food banks encountered during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, including supply chain disruptions, increased demand, and volunteer shortages. To address these issues, effective solutions, including the management of food donations and volunteer scheduling, were proposed. Our findings have practical implications for decision-makers in food bank management, highlighting the importance of adopting evidence-based solutions. Finally, Limitations and prospective research directions in food bank management are discussed, with an emphasis on the need for ongoing research in this crucial area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohana Rambe
- Faculty of Management, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada
| | | | - Eric Li
- Faculty of Management, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada
| | - Barb Marcolin
- Faculty of Management, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada
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Loopstra R, Lambie-Mumford H. Food banks: Understanding their role in the food insecure population in the UK. Proc Nutr Soc 2023; 82:253-263. [PMID: 36999354 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123002720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
The present paper reviews the growing body of literature on food insecurity and food bank use in the UK. It provides an overview of food insecurity in this context, followed by a description of the emergence of food banks, highlighting how any role that food banks play in the food insecure population is limited. Data on food insecurity and food bank use suggest many people experiencing food insecurity do not receive help from food banks. To better understand the factors influencing the relationship between food insecurity and food bank use, a conceptual framework is outlined, suggesting the relationship is far from straightforward and contingent on many factors. The nature and availability of food banks and other local support services and individual-level factors influence the likelihood of food banks being used in the context of food insecurity. Then, the extent to which food banks can impact food insecurity is also dependent on the quantity and quality of food distributed, as well as other support services offered from food banks. Closing reflections highlight rising living costs and food banks reporting that they do not have capacity to cope with increasing demand, underscoring the need for policy interventions. Reliance on food banks to respond to food insecurity may ultimately impede formulation of effective policy interventions to reduce food insecurity, giving the illusion of widespread available support, whilst food insecurity persists among those receiving help from food banks and those who experience food insecurity but do not use food banks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Loopstra
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Sosenko F, Bramley G, Bhattacharjee A. Understanding the post-2010 increase in food bank use in England: new quasi-experimental analysis of the role of welfare policy. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1363. [PMID: 35842623 PMCID: PMC9287534 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13738-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The number of food banks (charitable outlets of emergency food parcels) and the volume of food distributed by them increased multi-fold in the United Kingdom (UK) since 2010. The overwhelming majority of users of food banks are severely food insecure. Since food insecurity implies a nutritionally inadequate diet, and poor dietary intake has been linked to a number of diseases and chronic conditions, the rise in the number of people using food banks is a phenomenon of significant importance for public health. However, there is a shortage of robust, causal statistical analyses of drivers of food bank use, hindering social and political action on alleviating severe food insecurity. Methods A panel dataset of 325 local authorities in England was constructed, spanning 9 years (2011/12–2019/20). The dataset included information about the volume of parcels and the number of food banks in the Trussell Trust network, as well as economy-related, welfare system-related and housing-related variables. A quasi-experimental approach was employed in the form of a ‘first differencing’ ecological model, predicting the number of food parcels distributed by food banks in the Trussell Trust network. This neutralised bias from omitting time-constant unobserved confounders. Results Seven predictors in the model were statistically significant, including four related to the welfare system: the value of the main out-of-work benefit; the roll-out of Universal Credit; benefit sanctions; and the ‘bedroom tax’ in social housing. Of the remaining three significant predictors, one regarded the ‘supply’ side (the number of food banks in the area) and two regarded the ‘demand’ side (the proportion of working age population on out-of-work benefits; the proportion of working age population who were unemployed). Conclusion The structure of the welfare system has been partly responsible for driving food bank use in the UK since 2011. Severe food insecurity could be alleviated by reforming aspects of the benefit system that have been evidenced to be implicated in the rise in food bank use. More broadly, the findings provide support for ‘Health and Health Equity in All Policies’ approach to policymaking. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13738-0.
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Odubela K, Jiang S, Davis L. Estimating True Demand at Hunger Relief Organizations with Predictive Modeling. JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2022.2061885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kehinde Odubela
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven Jiang
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren Davis
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
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Loh S, Knight A, Loopstra R. Working-age adults using food banks in England have significantly poorer health and higher rates of mental health conditions than adults in the general population: A cross-sectional quantitative study. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2021; 29:1594-1605. [PMID: 33211358 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Food bank use has risen rapidly in the UK since 2010. The negative health impacts of food insecurity are well-documented, but there is a lack of quantitative research exploring the health of people using food banks, who are most often severely food insecure. To address this gap, this study compares health outcomes between working-age adults using food banks and those in the general population in England, investigating whether adults using food banks are disproportionately affected by poor health, even after accounting for socioeconomic differences. Data from a survey of 598 adults using Trussell Trust food banks in 2016-2017 were merged with data from the Health Survey for England (HSE) from 2016. Outcome variables of interest were: self-rated health, life-limiting health conditions (disability) and self-reported metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and mental health conditions. Logistic regression models were used to examine the odds of adults using food banks having health conditions, disability and poor self-rated health compared to the general population. The prevalence rates of poor self-rated health, disability, mental health disorders and musculoskeletal conditions were significantly higher among adults using food banks than the general population (p < .05 for all outcomes). These associations remained after accounting for gender, age, marital status, employment and education. This comparative study highlights the many health disadvantages among adults using food bank compared to the general population. The higher risk of poor self-rated health, disability and mental health conditions was not fully explained by measures of low socioeconomic status. Possible explanations for these findings include: first, that poor health may increase vulnerability to food insecurity, and, in turn, use of food banks; second, that experiences of food insecurity and food bank use may cause declines in health; and third, that food bank use and poor health may be joint outcomes arising from the last decade of austerity in the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin Loh
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Annemarie Knight
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel Loopstra
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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Oncini F. Food support provision in COVID-19 times: a mixed method study based in Greater Manchester. AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN VALUES 2021; 38:1201-1213. [PMID: 33935352 PMCID: PMC8072744 DOI: 10.1007/s10460-021-10212-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED COVID-19 has brought to light the severity of economic inequalities by testing the capacity of the poorest families to make ends meet. Food insecurity has in fact soared all over the UK, with many people forced to rely on food support providers to not go hungry. This paper uses a unique dataset on 55 food support organizations active in Greater Manchester during the first COVID-19 wave, and 41 semi-structured interviews with food aid spokespersons and stakeholders, to shed light on what they overcame, the complications and drawbacks of the food emergency response plan put in place. The results indicate that food aid organizations that remained open were surprisingly effective despite the growth in user demand and the decrease in volunteers. However, the necessity to maintain a timely supply food at all costs came with important drawbacks. The lockdown measures that followed COVID-19 not only affected the financial stability and management of the organizations, and the availability of food, but undermined the ways in which food support providers used to operate. Owing to physical distancing measures and to the increasing numbers of users, more or less intangible forms of support such as financial advice, empathic listening and human warmth were partially lost, probably when they were needed more than ever. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10460-021-10212-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Oncini
- Sustainable Consumption Institute and Department of Sociology, University of Manchester, Booth St W, Manchester, M15 6PB UK
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Food insecurity (hunger) and fast-food consumption among 180 164 adolescents aged 12-15 years from sixty-eight countries. Br J Nutr 2021; 127:470-477. [PMID: 33814017 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114521001173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Food insecurity has been shown to be associated with fast-food consumption. However, to date, studies on this specific topic are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between food insecurity and fast-food consumption in adolescents aged 12-15 years from sixty-eight countries (seven low-income, twenty-seven lower middle-income, twenty upper middle-income, fourteen high-income countries). Cross-sectional, school-based data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey were analysed. Data on past 30-d food insecurity (hunger) and fast-food consumption in the past 7 d were collected. Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis were conducted to assess associations. Models were adjusted for age, sex and BMI. There were 180 164 adolescents aged 12-15 years (mean age 13·8 (sd 1·0) years; 50·8 % boys) included in the analysis. Overall, severe food insecurity (i.e. hungry because there was not enough food in home most of the time or always) was associated with 1·17 (95 % CI 1·08, 1·26) times higher odds for fast-food consumption. The estimates pooled by country-income levels were significant in low-income countries (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1·30; 95 % CI 1·05, 1·60), lower middle-income countries (aOR = 1·15; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·29) and upper middle-income countries (aOR = 1·26; 95 % CI 1·07, 1·49), but not in high-income countries (aOR = 1·04; 95 % CI 0·88, 1·23). The mere co-occurrence of food insecurity and fast-food consumption is of public health importance. To tackle this issue, a strong governmental and societal approach is required to utilise effective methods as demonstrated in some high-income countries such as the implementation of food banks and the adoption of free school meals.
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10
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Food Security during the Pandemic and the Importance of the Bioeconomy in the New Era. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su13010150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
One of the biggest challenges in managing the food sector during a pandemic crisis is sustaining a robust food security system and adopting the right strategies in correlating the consumers’ needs and requirements with those of food safety, the producers, the distribution chain, the economic environment, and waste management. The restrictions on people’s global movement, commodities, and services and the measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted food environments around the world and forced us to collectively redesign and optimize our systems using existing resources from a more sustainable perspective. This paper offers an overview of the implications of COVID-19 for the food supply chain and discusses several potential strategies for tackling short- and long-term adverse effects resulting from the pandemic.
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Douglas F, MacIver E, Yuill C. A qualitative investigation of lived experiences of long-term health condition management with people who are food insecure. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1309. [PMID: 32859179 PMCID: PMC7456079 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09299-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As more people are living with one or more chronic health conditions, supporting patients to become activated, self-managers of their conditions has become a key health policy focus both in the UK and internationally. There is also growing evidence in the UK that those with long term health conditions have an increased risk of being food insecure. While international evidence indicates that food insecurity adversely affects individual’s health condition management capability, little is known about how those so affected manage their condition(s) in this context. An investigation of lived experience of health condition management was undertaken with food insecure people living in north east Scotland. The study aimed to explore the challenges facing food insecure people in terms of, i. their self-care condition management practices, and ii. disclosing and discussing the experience of managing their condition with a health care professional, and iii. Notions of the support they might wish to receive from them. Methods Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals attending a food bank and food pantry in north east Scotland. Interview audio recordings were fully transcribed and thematically analysed. Results Individuals reporting multiple physical and mental health conditions, took part in the study. Four main themes were identified i.e.: 1. food practices, trade-offs and compromises, that relate to economic constraints and lack of choice; 2. illness experiences and food as they relate to physical and mental ill-health; 3. (in) visibility of participants’ economic vulnerability within health care consultations; and 4. perceptions and expectations of the health care system. Conclusions This study, the first of its kind in the UK, indicated that participants’ health condition management aspirations were undermined by the experience of food insecurity, and that their health care consultations in were, on the whole, devoid of discussions of those challenges. As such, the study indicated practical and ethical implications for health care policy, practice and research associated with the risk of intervention-generated health inequalities that were suggested by this study. Better understanding is needed about the impact of household food insecurity on existing ill health, wellbeing and health care use across the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Douglas
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.
| | - Emma MacIver
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Chris Yuill
- School of Applied Social Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland
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Simmet A, Teut M, Schleicher R, Bschaden A, Stroebele-Benschop N. Impact of a smoking cessation program on smoking prevalence and food security among food pantry users - a study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1124. [PMID: 32680475 PMCID: PMC7366453 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09232-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among food pantry users there is a high prevalence of both smoking and food insecurity, which may be related to one another. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a smoking cessation program carried out in food pantries on the smoking status and the food security status of food pantry users. METHODS / DESIGN Before starting the cluster randomised controlled trial, stakeholders will be engaged to adapt a behavioural group counselling program for smoking cessation to the needs of the food pantry users in a pre study. Food pantry users and workers as well as other experts, such as smoking cessation trainers, social workers, and psychologists, will be involved, using the world café technique and telephone interviews and a qualitative thematic analysis for data analysis to design the concept of the intervention program will be applied. In the second phase, the impact of the intervention on the smoking status and on food insecurity will be investigated by a cluster randomised controlled trial. A total of 416 food pantry users across 32 clusters (food pantries) in Berlin, Germany, should be recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the waiting list control group. The intervention will consist of a behavioural group counselling program for smoking cessation, specially tailored for food pantry users, as well as optional nicotine replacement therapy and the implementation of environmental smoking reduction measures in the food pantries. The primary outcomes 6 months after the treatment will be self-reported continuous smoking abstinence, validated by exhaled carbon monoxide (< 10 ppm of carbon monoxide), and increased food security level (the percentage of participants with an improved food security level). DISCUSSION This study will be the first long-term investigation into the effect of a smoking cessation program on smoking status and food insecurity. The results of this study will inform the implementation of smoking cessation programs in food pantries throughout Germany. TRIAL REGISTRATION Prospectively registered DRKS00020037 . Registered 29 April 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Simmet
- Institute of Nutritional Medicine, Department of Nutritional Psychology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michael Teut
- Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Luisenstraße 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Romy Schleicher
- Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Luisenstraße 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Bschaden
- Institute of Nutritional Medicine, Department of Nutritional Psychology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nanette Stroebele-Benschop
- Institute of Nutritional Medicine, Department of Nutritional Psychology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
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Power M, Doherty B, Pybus K, Pickett K. How COVID-19 has exposed inequalities in the UK food system: The case
of UK food and poverty. EMERALD OPEN RESEARCH 2020; 2:11. [PMCID: PMC7219559 DOI: 10.35241/emeraldopenres.13539.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This article draws upon our perspective as academic-practitioners working in the
fields of food insecurity, food systems, and inequality to comment, in the early
stages of the pandemic and associated lockdown, on the empirical and ethical
implications of COVID-19 for socio-economic inequalities in access to food in
the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened the profound insecurity of large
segments of the UK population, an insecurity itself the product of a decade of
‘austerity’ policies. Increased unemployment, reduced hours, and
enforced self-isolation for multiple vulnerable groups is likely to lead to an
increase in UK food insecurity, exacerbating diet-related health inequalities.
The social and economic crisis associated with the pandemic has exposed the
fragility of the system of food charity which, at present, is a key response to
growing poverty. A vulnerable food system, with just-in-time supply chains, has
been challenged by stockpiling. Resultant food supply issues at food banks,
alongside rapidly increasing demand and reduced volunteer numbers, has
undermined many food charities, especially independent food banks. In the light
of this analysis, we make a series of recommendations. We call for an immediate
end to the five week wait for Universal Credit and cash grants for low income
households. We ask central and local government to recognise that many food aid
providers are already at capacity and unable to adopt additional
responsibilities. The government’s - significant - response to the
economic crisis associated with COVID-19 has underscored a key principle: it is
the government’s responsibility to protect population health, to
guarantee household incomes, and to safeguard the economy. Millions of
households were in poverty before the pandemic, and millions more will be so
unless the government continues to protect household incomes through policy
change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Power
- Health Sciences, University of York, York, Yorkshire, YO10 5GD,
UK
| | - Bob Doherty
- The York Management School, University of York, York, Yorkshire,
YO10 5GD, UK
| | - Katie Pybus
- Health Sciences, University of York, York, Yorkshire, YO10 5GD,
UK
| | - Kate Pickett
- Health Sciences, University of York, York, Yorkshire, YO10 5GD,
UK
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