biostudies-literatureEgan KANICHD NIH HHSNIDA NIH HHSNIDDK NIH HHSAHRQ HHS444-453https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10922354biostudies-literatureUnknown66(3)<h4>Introduction</h4>This study aimed to characterize progression from screening for food insecurity risk to on-site food pantry referral to food pantry utilization in pediatric primary care.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective study included 14,280 patients aged 0-21 years with ≥1 pediatric primary care visit from March 2018 to February 2020. Analyses were conducted in 2020-2022 using multivariable regression to examine patient-level demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic characteristics and systems-related factors associated with progression from screening positive for food insecurity risk to food pantry referral to completing ≥1 food pantry visit.<h4>Results</h4>Of patients screened for food insecurity risk, 31.9% screened positive; 18.5% of food-insecure patients received an on-site food pantry referral. Among patients referred, 28.9% visited the food pantry. In multivariable models, higher odds of referral were found for patients living near the clinic (AOR=1.28; 95% CI=1.03, 1.59), for each additional health-related social need reported (AOR=1.23; 95% CI=1.16, 1.29), and when the index clinic encounter occurred during food pantry open hours (AOR=1.62; 95% CI=1.30, 2.02). Higher odds of food pantry visitation were found for patients with a preferred language of Haitian Creole (AOR=2.16; 95% CI=1.37, 3.39), for patients of Hispanic race/ethnicity (AOR=3.67; 95% CI=1.14, 11.78), when the index encounter occurred during food pantry open hours (AOR=1.96; 95% CI=1.25, 3.07), for patients with a clinician letter referral (AOR=6.74; 95% CI=3.94, 11.54), or for patients with a referral due to a screening-identified food emergency (AOR=2.27; 95% CI=1.30, 3.96).<h4>Conclusions</h4>There was substantial attrition along the pathway from screening positive for food insecurity risk to food pantry referral and utilization as well as patient-level characteristics and systems-related factors associated with successful referrals and utilization.American journal of preventive medicineFood Pantry Referral and Utilization in a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic.PMC10922354K01 DA054328T32 HS022242P30 DK092950K23 HD090222Fernandez-Pastrana IMa Shum JBuitron de la Vega PKistin CJSandel MXuan ZHofman MEgan KAFiechtner LHsu HfalseFood Pantry Referral and Utilization in a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic.<h4>Introduction</h4>This study aimed to characterize progression from screening for food insecurity risk to on-site food pantry referral to food pantry utilization in pediatric primary care.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective study included 14,280 patients aged 0-21 years with ≥1 pediatric primary care visit from March 2018 to February 2020. Analyses were conducted in 2020-2022 using multivariable regression to examine patient-level demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic characteristics and systems-related factors associated with progression from screening positive for food insecurity risk to food pantry referral to completing ≥1 food pantry visit.<h4>Results</h4>Of patients screened for food insecurity risk, 31.9% screened positive; 18.5% of food-insecure patients received an on-site food pantry referral. Among patients referred, 28.9% visited the food pantry. In multivariable models, higher odds of referral were found for patients living near the clinic (AOR=1.28; 95% CI=1.03, 1.59), for each additional health-related social need reported (AOR=1.23; 95% CI=1.16, 1.29), and when the index clinic encounter occurred during food pantry open hours (AOR=1.62; 95% CI=1.30, 2.02). Higher odds of food pantry visitation were found for patients with a preferred language of Haitian Creole (AOR=2.16; 95% CI=1.37, 3.39), for patients of Hispanic race/ethnicity (AOR=3.67; 95% CI=1.14, 11.78), when the index encounter occurred during food pantry open hours (AOR=1.96; 95% CI=1.25, 3.07), for patients with a clinician letter referral (AOR=6.74; 95% CI=3.94, 11.54), or for patients with a referral due to a screening-identified food emergency (AOR=2.27; 95% CI=1.30, 3.96).<h4>Conclusions</h4>There was substantial attrition along the pathway from screening positive for food insecurity risk to food pantry referral and utilization as well as patient-level characteristics and systems-related factors associated with successful referrals and utilization.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2025-04-04T02:45:39.342Z2025-04-04T02:45:39.342ZS-EPMC109223543781317110.1016/j.amepre.2023.10.006