Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models
BackgroundProduce prescription programs have strong potential to improve food security, fruit and vegetable consumption, and health across the life course. Understanding clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs is critical for evaluating the person-centeredness and qu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1295291/full |
| _version_ | 1797254424649793536 |
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| author | Elizabeth C. Rhodes Elizabeth C. Rhodes Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Ngozi Okoli Ngozi Okoli Amber Hromi-Fiedler Jaime Foster John McAndrew John McAndrew Beatriz Duran-Becerra Beatriz Duran-Becerra Kathleen O’Connor Duffany Kathleen O’Connor Duffany |
| author_facet | Elizabeth C. Rhodes Elizabeth C. Rhodes Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Ngozi Okoli Ngozi Okoli Amber Hromi-Fiedler Jaime Foster John McAndrew John McAndrew Beatriz Duran-Becerra Beatriz Duran-Becerra Kathleen O’Connor Duffany Kathleen O’Connor Duffany |
| author_sort | Elizabeth C. Rhodes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundProduce prescription programs have strong potential to improve food security, fruit and vegetable consumption, and health across the life course. Understanding clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs is critical for evaluating the person-centeredness and quality of these programs. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe client experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs, with an emphasis on the extent to which they felt they were treated with respect and dignity, and (2) identify recommendations for improving client experiences.MethodsWe conducted four focus group discussions with clients of produce prescription programs in two Federally Qualified Health Centers in California. We used a modified framework analysis approach and organized participants’ experiences with programs into themes.ResultsThree themes captured participants’ program experiences. First, respectful produce prescription programming encompassed interactions with individuals delivering the programs that felt respectful (e.g., program staff showing they cared about participants’ health and offering timely assistance with financial incentives) and disrespectful (e.g., not receiving prompt responses to questions about incentives), as well as aspects of program design perceived to be respectful (e.g., provision of gift cards as financial incentives, which offered privacy when purchasing produce). Second, having autonomy to use gift cards to choose their preferred fresh fruits and vegetables was viewed as a positive experience, though participants desired greater autonomy to shop at stores other than the program designated stores. Third, participants frequently discussed program usability, with some reporting that joining the programs and using the cards was easy, and others describing difficulties activating cards and using them at stores due to cashiers’ lack of awareness of the programs. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the programs. To improve client experiences, they recommended increasing privacy (e.g., by educating cashiers on the programs so that clients do not need to explain in public what the card is for) and autonomy (e.g., allowing cards to be used at other chain or local stores).DiscussionOur findings inform efforts to make produce prescription programs more person-centered and respectful, which in turn may increase program demand, engagement, and impact. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T21:49:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1cd77d8019b54a3ea0414da1b4c76682 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T21:49:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1cd77d8019b54a3ea0414da1b4c766822024-03-20T16:16:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-03-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.12952911295291Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program modelsElizabeth C. Rhodes0Elizabeth C. Rhodes1Rafael Pérez-Escamilla2Rafael Pérez-Escamilla3Ngozi Okoli4Ngozi Okoli5Amber Hromi-Fiedler6Jaime Foster7John McAndrew8John McAndrew9Beatriz Duran-Becerra10Beatriz Duran-Becerra11Kathleen O’Connor Duffany12Kathleen O’Connor Duffany13Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesEmory Global Diabetes Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesYale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Derby, CT, United StatesDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesCommunity Alliance for Research and Engagement, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesYale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Derby, CT, United StatesYale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Derby, CT, United StatesWholesome Wave, Bridgeport, CT, United StatesDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesCommunity Alliance for Research and Engagement, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United StatesYale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Derby, CT, United StatesBackgroundProduce prescription programs have strong potential to improve food security, fruit and vegetable consumption, and health across the life course. Understanding clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs is critical for evaluating the person-centeredness and quality of these programs. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe client experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs, with an emphasis on the extent to which they felt they were treated with respect and dignity, and (2) identify recommendations for improving client experiences.MethodsWe conducted four focus group discussions with clients of produce prescription programs in two Federally Qualified Health Centers in California. We used a modified framework analysis approach and organized participants’ experiences with programs into themes.ResultsThree themes captured participants’ program experiences. First, respectful produce prescription programming encompassed interactions with individuals delivering the programs that felt respectful (e.g., program staff showing they cared about participants’ health and offering timely assistance with financial incentives) and disrespectful (e.g., not receiving prompt responses to questions about incentives), as well as aspects of program design perceived to be respectful (e.g., provision of gift cards as financial incentives, which offered privacy when purchasing produce). Second, having autonomy to use gift cards to choose their preferred fresh fruits and vegetables was viewed as a positive experience, though participants desired greater autonomy to shop at stores other than the program designated stores. Third, participants frequently discussed program usability, with some reporting that joining the programs and using the cards was easy, and others describing difficulties activating cards and using them at stores due to cashiers’ lack of awareness of the programs. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the programs. To improve client experiences, they recommended increasing privacy (e.g., by educating cashiers on the programs so that clients do not need to explain in public what the card is for) and autonomy (e.g., allowing cards to be used at other chain or local stores).DiscussionOur findings inform efforts to make produce prescription programs more person-centered and respectful, which in turn may increase program demand, engagement, and impact.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1295291/fullperson-centeredqualitative researchfood securityproduce prescriptionUnited States |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth C. Rhodes Elizabeth C. Rhodes Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Ngozi Okoli Ngozi Okoli Amber Hromi-Fiedler Jaime Foster John McAndrew John McAndrew Beatriz Duran-Becerra Beatriz Duran-Becerra Kathleen O’Connor Duffany Kathleen O’Connor Duffany Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models Frontiers in Public Health person-centered qualitative research food security produce prescription United States |
| title | Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models |
| title_full | Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models |
| title_fullStr | Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models |
| title_short | Clients’ experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in California: a qualitative evaluation to inform person-centered and respectful program models |
| title_sort | clients experiences and satisfaction with produce prescription programs in california a qualitative evaluation to inform person centered and respectful program models |
| topic | person-centered qualitative research food security produce prescription United States |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1295291/full |
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