400 Participants Needed

Grocery Gift Cards for Low-Income Families

(GROCERY Trial)

Age: Any Age
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Grocery gift card for low-income families?

Research shows that programs providing food vouchers or gift cards to low-income families can improve health outcomes by reducing hospital readmissions and increasing access to healthy foods, which can lead to healthier diets.12345

Is it safe for humans to receive grocery gift cards as a treatment?

The study involving low-income women who received vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables showed no safety concerns, as participants successfully used the vouchers to purchase a variety of healthy foods without any reported issues.678910

How does the grocery gift card treatment differ from other treatments for food insecurity?

The grocery gift card treatment is unique because it directly provides low-income families with the means to purchase groceries, offering immediate financial relief and access to food, unlike other programs that may focus on education or indirect support.111121314

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an intervention to provide food support to families who are part of a Medicaid Accountable Care Organization will provide benefits. The main question it aims to answer:Does this monthly food support intervention reduce food insecurity and healthcare utilization in these patients.Participants will complete surveys in the hospital, 14-days after discharge, and then quarterly for up to 18 months. Families randomized to the intervention group will receive monthly grocery gift cards for one year.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for low-income families with children who are part of a Medicaid Accountable Care Organization. It's designed to see if giving them monthly grocery gift cards can help reduce food insecurity and the need for healthcare services.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a parent of a child admitted to the specified hospital units and we have HealthVine insurance.

Exclusion Criteria

Previous study participation

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Families randomized to the intervention group receive monthly $100 grocery gift cards for 12 months

12 months
Monthly visits (virtual or in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for food insecurity, healthcare utilization, and other outcomes through surveys

18 months
Quarterly surveys (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Grocery gift card
Trial Overview The study tests whether providing monthly grocery gift cards to these families makes a difference in their well-being. Families will be randomly chosen to either receive this benefit or not, and they'll answer surveys about their situation over an 18-month period.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: InterventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Monthly $100 grocery gift cards for 12 months
Group II: Standard of CareActive Control1 Intervention
Can receive in-hospital social work referral if determined appropriate by clinical care team (also true for intervention group)

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Lead Sponsor

Trials
844
Recruited
6,566,000+

Findings from Research

A study involving 50 participants with food insecurity showed that using a prefilled, nutritionally balanced online grocery shopping cart led to significantly healthier purchases compared to just reviewing nutrition information.
Participants using the default shopping cart bought more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, while also selecting foods lower in sodium, cholesterol, and unhealthy fats, indicating that this approach can effectively promote better nutrition in financially constrained individuals.
Nudging while online grocery shopping: A randomized feasibility trial to enhance nutrition in individuals with food insecurity.Coffino, JA., Udo, T., Hormes, JM.[2021]

References

Experiences and perceived outcomes of a grocery gift card programme for households at risk of food insecurity. [2023]
A randomized study of food pantry environment-level change following the SuperShelf intervention. [2023]
B'More Healthy: Retail Rewards--design of a multi-level communications and pricing intervention to improve the food environment in Baltimore City. [2022]
Link between redemption of a medical food pantry voucher and reduced hospital readmissions. [2021]
"The coupons and stuff just made it possible": economic constraints and patient experiences of a produce prescription program. [2022]
Choices made by low-income women provided with an economic supplement for fresh fruit and vegetable purchase. [2007]
Assessing the effect of adverse economic events on severity of hunger among food pantry clients. [2023]
Nudging while online grocery shopping: A randomized feasibility trial to enhance nutrition in individuals with food insecurity. [2021]
Evaluation of the first U.S. staple foods ordinance: impact on nutritional quality of food store offerings, customer purchases and home food environments. [2021]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Inclusion of Food Safety Information in Home-delivered U.K. Meal-kit Recipes. [2023]
11.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The Changing Safety Net for Low-Income Parents and Their Children: Structural or Cyclical Changes in Income Support Policy? [2018]
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
EBT Payment for Online Grocery Orders: a Mixed-Methods Study to Understand Its Uptake among SNAP Recipients and the Barriers to and Motivators for Its Use. [2019]
Innovative Partnerships to Address Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Brighter Bites Produce Voucher Program. [2021]
14.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Food Skills Education and Low-Income Adults' Healthy Food Choices. [2022]
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