Food to Overcome Outcomes Disparities: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Food Insecurity Interventions to Improve Cancer Outcomes

Top Things to Know

The food voucher plus pantry intervention was most effective in ensuring cancer treatment completion.

All interventions significantly improved food security among the participants, while the pantry and delivery plus pantry arms were associated with improved depression and quality of life scores.

The study demonstrated the importance of integrating food assistance into cancer care that addresses both nutritional and psychosocial needs.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The study evaluated the impact of food insecurity interventions on cancer outcomes among patients with cancer who were low-income immigrants and other underrepresented races and ethnicities in New York City. Conducted as a three-arm randomized controlled trial, it compared a hospital-based food pantry, a food voucher plus pantry, and home grocery delivery plus pantry. The study found that the food voucher plus pantry intervention had the highest treatment completion rate (94.6%), followed by grocery delivery plus pantry (82.5%) and pantry only (77.5%). All interventions significantly improved food security scores, with notable improvements in depression and quality-of-life scores in the pantry and delivery plus pantry arms.