Produce Prescription Program for Chronic Disease Management

AD
Overseen ByAna Diallo, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University
Must be taking: Chronic condition medications
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a program providing fresh produce can better manage chronic health conditions. It examines the effects of the Prescription Produce Plan on nutrition, food security, and overall health over a year. Some participants will also attend cooking classes to determine if this additional step makes a difference. The trial is ideal for adults in a health and wellness program who manage conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes with medication. Participants should be prepared to attend at least half of the planned team visits. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative approaches in managing chronic health conditions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your medications since the study focuses on a produce prescription program, not medication changes.

What prior data suggests that the Prescription Produce Plan is safe for participants?

Research shows that produce prescription programs are generally safe for participants. In these programs, healthcare providers recommend eating more fruits and vegetables to improve diet and manage chronic diseases. No reports of serious side effects have emerged from these programs, which are designed to encourage healthier eating habits.

Participants in similar programs have experienced better nutrition and improved management of chronic conditions, indicating that these programs are well-received. Some programs also offer cooking classes to teach participants how to prepare healthy meals, enhancing their experience without safety concerns.

Overall, the Prescription Produce Plan, with or without cooking classes, appears safe based on current evidence. It aims to improve access to healthy foods, a low-risk approach.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Prescription Produce Plan for managing chronic diseases because it focuses on using fresh produce as part of the treatment, which is a unique approach compared to conventional medication-based treatments. Unlike standard treatments that often involve pharmaceuticals, this program emphasizes improving diet quality and food security, which could lead to better overall health outcomes. The addition of cooking classes in one arm of the program, offered by Delicious Legacy, aims to empower participants with practical skills to make healthier food choices, potentially leading to sustainable lifestyle changes. This holistic approach could offer a more natural and accessible way to manage chronic diseases, addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.

What evidence suggests that the Prescription Produce Plan could be effective for chronic disease management?

Studies have shown that programs providing free fruits and vegetables can improve diet and health for people with long-term illnesses. Research indicates these programs increase fruit and vegetable consumption, helping manage conditions like diabetes and heart disease. One study found that these programs can also improve access to food and encourage healthier eating habits. In this trial, one group of participants will receive the Standard Prescription Produce Program (PPP) alone, while another group will receive the PPP plus cooking classes. Adding cooking classes may help participants make lasting changes in their diet. Overall, evidence suggests these programs can significantly aid in managing chronic diseases.26789

Who Is on the Research Team?

AD

Ana Diallo

Principal Investigator

Virginia Commonwealth University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adults over 18 who are part of the Mobile Health and Wellness Program, taking medication for chronic conditions like hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes (type 2 or pre-diabetes), arthritis, obesity, CHF, or COPD.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a participant in the Mobile Health and Wellness Program.
I am 18 or older and speak English.
I have been diagnosed with one or more of the following: hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, arthritis, obesity, CHF, or COPD.
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Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in the Prescription Produce Program (PPP) with optional cooking classes to improve nutrition and food security status, diet quality, and chronic disease management

12 months
Monthly visits (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in health outcomes, diet quality, and chronic disease management after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Prescription Produce Plan

Trial Overview

The study tests a prescription produce program within a community health initiative. It includes culturally tailored cooking classes and aims to see if this improves nutrition security and helps manage chronic diseases over a year.

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Standard Prescription Produce Program (PPP) + Cooking ClassesExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Group II: Standard Prescription Produce Program (PPP)Active Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
732
Recruited
22,900,000+

Citations

The effect of food prescription programs on chronic disease ...

Food pharmacy programs are potential solutions to providing V/F to low-income populations with or at-risk for chronic disease.

Impact of Produce Prescriptions on Diet, Food Security ...

Produce prescriptions may improve cardiometabolic health by increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and food insecurity.

Health and Economic Impact and Cost-effectiveness of ...

Produce prescription (PRx) programs have been shown to result in improved dietary quality, diabetes control, and cardiometabolic outcomes.

Produce Rx Programs for Diet-Based Chronic Disease ...

Produce prescription programs can expand patient's food choices and provide financial incentives to change consumption behaviors. If these programs are not ...

Examining Food Security, Fruit and Vegetable Intake ...

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to examine the impact of PPR programs on food security, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, and/or ...

Understanding Fruit and Vegetable Programs | Nutrition

Produce prescription programs allow health care workers to prescribe fruits and vegetables to patients who meet specific criteria. Such patients ...

Produce prescription projects: Challenges, solutions, and ...

Successful produce prescription programs (PPR) align with clinic workflow. A designated clinic staff member is ideal to manage all aspects of a PPR.

The Food for Health Study (F4H)

Produce Prescription Programs (PPPs) are an upstream evidence-based intervention (EBI) to reduce food insecurity and improve health. PPPs ...

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prchn.org

prchn.org/prx/

Produce Prescription Program (PRx)

The Produce Prescription program works to help residents in low-resource neighborhoods foster healthier eating habits through.