Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Those experiencing houselessness rely on obtaining food from community organizers and donations. Simultaneously, the houseless face disproportionally high rates of medical conditions that may be affected by diet including diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. There is limit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16790-6 |
| _version_ | 1797397700279271424 |
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| author | Elizabeth J. Adams Michelle Lu Richard Duan Alyssa K. Chao Helen C. Kessler Charles D. Miller Adam G. Richter Daniel G. Latyshev Jehannaz D. Dastoor Adam J. Eckburg Namrata S. Kadambi Nila R. Suresh Cayla E. Bales Hannah M. Green Daniel M. Camp Rolando Jara John P. Flaherty |
| author_facet | Elizabeth J. Adams Michelle Lu Richard Duan Alyssa K. Chao Helen C. Kessler Charles D. Miller Adam G. Richter Daniel G. Latyshev Jehannaz D. Dastoor Adam J. Eckburg Namrata S. Kadambi Nila R. Suresh Cayla E. Bales Hannah M. Green Daniel M. Camp Rolando Jara John P. Flaherty |
| author_sort | Elizabeth J. Adams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Those experiencing houselessness rely on obtaining food from community organizers and donations. Simultaneously, the houseless face disproportionally high rates of medical conditions that may be affected by diet including diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. There is limited literature on the resources and barriers of the houseless community regarding optimal nutrition from an actionable perspective. Further, less data is available on how street medicine organizations may best impact the nutrition of the unhoused they serve. Elucidating this information will inform how organizational efforts may best support the nutrition of the houseless community. Methods In partnership with the medical student-run organization, Chicago Street Medicine, at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, twenty adults experiencing houselessness in Chicago, Illinois participated in the cross-sectional study. A 10-item survey was verbally administered to characterize the participants’ daily food intake, food sources, barriers, resources, and nutritional preferences and needs. All data was directly transcribed into REDCap. Descriptive statistics were generated. Results Individuals consumed a median of 2 snacks and meals per day (IQR: 1–3). No participant consumed adequate servings of every food group, with only one participant meeting the dietary intake requirements for one food group. Participants most often received their food from donations (n = 15), purchasing themselves (n = 11), food pantries (n = 4), and shelters (n = 3). Eleven of nineteen participants endorsed dental concerns as a major barrier to consuming certain foods. Twelve participants had access to a can opener and twelve could heat their meals on a stove or microwave. Seven had access to kitchen facilities where they may prepare a meal. Approximately half of participants had been counseled by a physician to maintain a particular diet, with most related to reducing sugar intake. Conclusion Most houseless participants were unable to acquire a balanced diet and often relied on organizational efforts to eat. Organizations should consider the chronic health conditions, dentition needs, and physical resources and barriers to optimal nutrition when obtaining food to distribute to the unhoused. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:14:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb49f6f78bbe45ac954479d175df76f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:14:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb49f6f78bbe45ac954479d175df76f72023-12-10T12:34:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-12-012311910.1186/s12889-023-16790-6Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional studyElizabeth J. Adams0Michelle Lu1Richard Duan2Alyssa K. Chao3Helen C. Kessler4Charles D. Miller5Adam G. Richter6Daniel G. Latyshev7Jehannaz D. Dastoor8Adam J. Eckburg9Namrata S. Kadambi10Nila R. Suresh11Cayla E. Bales12Hannah M. Green13Daniel M. Camp14Rolando Jara15John P. Flaherty16Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicago Street MedicineChicago Street MedicineAbstract Background Those experiencing houselessness rely on obtaining food from community organizers and donations. Simultaneously, the houseless face disproportionally high rates of medical conditions that may be affected by diet including diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. There is limited literature on the resources and barriers of the houseless community regarding optimal nutrition from an actionable perspective. Further, less data is available on how street medicine organizations may best impact the nutrition of the unhoused they serve. Elucidating this information will inform how organizational efforts may best support the nutrition of the houseless community. Methods In partnership with the medical student-run organization, Chicago Street Medicine, at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, twenty adults experiencing houselessness in Chicago, Illinois participated in the cross-sectional study. A 10-item survey was verbally administered to characterize the participants’ daily food intake, food sources, barriers, resources, and nutritional preferences and needs. All data was directly transcribed into REDCap. Descriptive statistics were generated. Results Individuals consumed a median of 2 snacks and meals per day (IQR: 1–3). No participant consumed adequate servings of every food group, with only one participant meeting the dietary intake requirements for one food group. Participants most often received their food from donations (n = 15), purchasing themselves (n = 11), food pantries (n = 4), and shelters (n = 3). Eleven of nineteen participants endorsed dental concerns as a major barrier to consuming certain foods. Twelve participants had access to a can opener and twelve could heat their meals on a stove or microwave. Seven had access to kitchen facilities where they may prepare a meal. Approximately half of participants had been counseled by a physician to maintain a particular diet, with most related to reducing sugar intake. Conclusion Most houseless participants were unable to acquire a balanced diet and often relied on organizational efforts to eat. Organizations should consider the chronic health conditions, dentition needs, and physical resources and barriers to optimal nutrition when obtaining food to distribute to the unhoused.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16790-6NutritionFood insecurityStreet medicineUnhousedHouselessUnsheltered |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth J. Adams Michelle Lu Richard Duan Alyssa K. Chao Helen C. Kessler Charles D. Miller Adam G. Richter Daniel G. Latyshev Jehannaz D. Dastoor Adam J. Eckburg Namrata S. Kadambi Nila R. Suresh Cayla E. Bales Hannah M. Green Daniel M. Camp Rolando Jara John P. Flaherty Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Nutrition Food insecurity Street medicine Unhoused Houseless Unsheltered |
| title | Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Nutritional needs, resources, and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in Chicago, Illinois: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | nutritional needs resources and barriers among unhoused adults cared for by a street medicine organization in chicago illinois a cross sectional study |
| topic | Nutrition Food insecurity Street medicine Unhoused Houseless Unsheltered |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16790-6 |
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