Abstract

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) in pregnant individuals (PI)s is a global threat to birthing individuals and fetuses with potential immediate and intergenerational impacts on family and community. Community Health Workers (CHWs) facilitate support including food resources for FIPIs. The Family Fresh Rx (FFRx) program, within Food as Medicine (FaM) model provides fresh fruits and vegetables, optimize nutrition, and mitigates threats to health. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Quality Improvement (QI) project’s two objectives were CHWs’ FFRx program and referral process satisfaction evaluation through a pre, post, and four-week post refresher presentation (RP) modified System Usability Scale (mSUS) survey and FFRx referral rates evaluation for 10-weeks post RP compared with the same 10-weeks in 2024. Methods: Four CHWs supporting three Bernalillo County, New Mexico OB/GYN clinics in a statewide healthcare system (HSC) received a RP on FI in PI, the current HSC FFRx program. CHWs received identical pre, post, and four-week post RP mSUS surveys to measure changes in satisfaction with the FFRx program and referral process. FFRx referral rates for 10 weeks post-RP were compared with the same 10 weeks in 2024. Deidentified aggregated CHW data was scored by SUS methodology. The nonparametric mSUS pre, post, and 4 weeks post CHW post RP data Friedman test resulted in a statistical significance of 0.038. (x2(2) = 6.553, p< 0.05) as a positive effect on the CHW RP. 2025 FFRx program received five referrals in the 10-week post CHW RP. FFRx referrals were directly linked with funding. FFRx funding and referrals were paused in week two and resumed in week seven. The 2025 FFRx referral rates were deemed not relevant due to an insurmountable data gap and were unable to undergo additional analysis. Conclusions: This DNP QI project experienced an external threat, as funding and referrals were paused in week two and resumed in week seven when the HSC CEO committed support for the FaM program which included the FFRx program. 2025 FFRx referral data was determined not relevant and was excluded from statistical analysis. A refresher presentation on FI in PI and the FFRx program resulted in increased CHW satisfaction.

Language

English

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

College of Nursing

First Committee Member

Dr Tamara Shannon

Second Committee Member

Dr Connie Smith-Fassler

Comments

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my family, Drs. Shannon and Smith Fassler, the University of New Mexico College of Nursing, and the dedicated OB/GYN Community Health Workers in Albuquerque, NM.

Keywords

Community Health Workers, Hunger, Pregnant Individuals, Barriers, Food as Medicine, Family Fresh Prescription Program

Download

Share

COinS