An Evaluation Case Study on a Food Prescription Program in the Saskatchewan Prairies
Date
2025-01-22
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0009-0006-8289-3210
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Food insecurity (FI) is a rising problem in Canada and has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. FI manifests differently in various populations but can be described as the lack of access to nutritious food due to various constraints, such as income, education, health status, land location, and ethnicity. Food prescription programs (FPP) are an increasingly popular way to help mitigate the effects of lack of access to food and affordability. This is an evaluation case study to understand the experiences of those participating in an FPP in Saskatchewan. Recruiting participants from Regina and North Battleford, SK, ten semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis explored the barriers to program participation, perceived effects on participants’ overall health, and the extent to which the program addressed FI. Findings from this study revealed five key themes: 1) Understanding the Challenges of Accessing Nutritious Food, 2) Acculturing to the New Access to Nutritious Food, 3) I Feel Empowered, 4) Health Impacts of the Food Prescription Program, and 5) We Want More Input and Support. Participants reported feeling better physically, enjoying social interactions with volunteers, and being more involved with family and friends through cooking. Suggestions for program improvement encompassed the desire for more nutritional and culinary education, more choice in what goes into the weekly food bag, expanding the program beyond the hospital setting, and changing the pick-up design in North Battleford.
Social prescribing is new for many nurses. To help form a well-rounded program for a food-specific program, an RN would need to involve other team members, such as a dietitian, pharmacist, and social worker. Nurses who work in the acute care inpatient setting would benefit from learning more about social prescribing, as it is established that the social determinants of health, such as income, education, and food insecurity, greatly influence health status.
Description
Keywords
food insecurity, food prescription program, registered nurse, Saskatchewan, social prescribing
Citation
Degree
Master of Nursing (M.N.)
Department
Nursing
Program
Nursing