| Description |
Individuals with substance use disorders are at risk for nutrient deficiencies, metabolic disorders, and food insecurity. Food insecurity develops when individuals lack reliable access to affordable, nutritious food. Health interventions for nutrition include increasing access to affordable, nutritious food and distributing culturally sensitive and inclusive educational resource materials that support sustainable recovery from substances and positive patient health outcomes. Local Problem: Moab, Utah, is considered a medical and food desert with minimal access to adequate health resources and food. The addiction medicine clinic that was studied is a nonprofit clinic that provides holistic, wrap-around services to individuals with substance use disorders. However, MMRC does not offer structured interventions to address food insecurity and nutrition. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians to assess the clinicians' attitudes and comfort levels when providing nutrition screening and interventions. A literature search informed and shaped evidence-based interventions. Patients underwent screening for food insecurity utilizing the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, with tracking of its usage over four weeks. A nutrition program provided xclinicians with substance use-specific nutrition education resources and adjunctive nutritional interventions. The Organizational Readiness to Implement Change (ORIC) Scale assessed the nutrition interventions usability, feasibility, and acceptability. Interventions: The project included food insecurity screening, nutrition assessment, and patient education resources to support positive nutrition outcomes. Along with these patient interventions, the project also included clinician resources in the form of educational materials to support the delivery of the nutrition interventions. Patient intervention materials included food insecurity screening, a handout with community resources to alleviate food insecurity, a recipe book with nutrient-dense, low-cost, easy-to-make meals, a handout with general nutrition information adapted for substance use disorders, and a curriculum for group education. Results: In the pre-intervention survey, clinicians showed an overwhelming interest in introducing nutrition interventions for their patients. About 30% of patients screened positive for nutrition insecurity and received referrals to case management and supplemental resources. The ORIC Scale yielded impactful results, with ninety-five percent (80/84) of the answers being positive, showing that stakeholders are committed and motivated to implement the program. Conclusion: The nutrition program developed for the rural addiction medicine clinic combines screening and treatment interventions for patients, clinician resources, workflows, and referral frameworks. The proposed interventions considered and prioritized the community's values and culture, as well as the social determinants of health, which speaks to the usefulness and sustainability of the project. Moreover, this culturally appropriate approach should also be considered in future practice and study within the field. |
