Using the re-aim framework to evaluate a campus food pantry’s potential impact on nutrition security

Addressing the research to practice gap is a significant public health priority. Implementation science aims to close the gap that exists between effective interventions and what is achievable in practice. Food pantries are an integral part of the food security safety net and were designed to distribute emergency food to alleviate short-term hunger to promote food sufficiency. However, given long-term dependence on food pantries and the burgeoning of diet-related health disparities, the focus of the safety net is shifting from food sufficiency to nutrition security or ensuring access to foods and beverages that promote well-being and prevent disease. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework assesses both the implementation and impact programs operating under real-world conditions and constraints and was used to evaluate a satellite campus food pantry’s potential impact on nutrition security. Administrative data was collected from a client-choice campus food pantry at a large Midwest university from August 2020 to May 2022. Pantry staff tracked student usage, item inventory, and costs. Items were analyzed for specific nutrients using the Nutrition Data System for Research and classified according to the Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System. Reach was calculated as the proportion of intended users that used the program. Effectiveness was calculated as the nutrients and servings per food group distributed on average per visit and compared with dietary recommendations. Adoption was reported as the characteristics of pantry operation and setup. Implementation was determined as the percent of openings with adequate stock to meet distribution guidelines. Maintenance was determined as the programs return on investment measured as the number of servings of healthy food distributed per dollar investment. The pantry reached 3% of food insecure students in the first year of implementation and about 15% of students relied on the pantry long-term. Students that visited more, on average, had a larger span of use (6.5 months) and were more likely to be graduate students and older (reach). Vitamin D, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains were below 3 days of the recommended intake for all students, and energy, fiber, potassium, vitamin A, and grains were low for male students (effectiveness). The pantry was established through a collaboration with a pre-existing community food pantry and operates as a 501© and is managed by campus recreation staff (adoption). The pantry supplied enough produce for 72% of openings and enough dairy for 63% of openings to meet distribution guidelines. On average, 1.35 fewer dairy items were distributed when adequate stock was not available (p-value = 0.000), equating to 6.5 fewer servings distributed (p-value 0.089). When produce was not adequately stocked, students received on average 1.6 fewer produce items (p-value = 0.003), which equated to 3.3 fewer servings received (p-value = 0.090) (implementation). Per dollar invested in the program, 1 serving of healthy food was distributed (maintenance). The food and nutrients distributed in limited amounts are consistent with those under-consumed according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. While campus food pantries can be a relatively cost-effective way to get healthy foods to food-insecure students, additional policies or programs are warranted to support students with chronic food needs. More research is needed to understand how pantry implementation can best support nutrition security.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nutritional Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, Ana Irene

Contributors dc:contributor

• Prescott, Melissa P
• Ellison, Brenna
• Martenies, Sheena
• McCaffrey, Jennifer
• Nickols-Richardson, Sharon

• Campus Food Pantry
• Nutrition Security
• Food Insecurity
• Implementation Science

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Ana Mitchell

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120526

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F120526