Development and implementation of a community health centre-based cooking skills intervention in Detroit, MI.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and implement a community-tailored, food agency-based cooking programme at a community health centre (CHC) and evaluate the effect of the intervention on cooking confidence and food waste. DESIGN: This study used an exploratory, sequential mixed methods design. Focus groups (n 38) were conducted to inform the development of a cooking intervention, then six cooking classes (n 45) were planned and piloted in the health centre's teaching kitchen. Changes in cooking confidence and related outcomes were assessed using pre- and post-class surveys. Follow-up interviews (n 12) were conducted 2-4 months post-intervention to assess satisfaction and short-term outcomes. SETTING: A CHC in Detroit, MI. PARTICIPANTS: Spanish- and English-speaking adults aged ≥18 years recruited at the CHC. RESULTS: In the formative focus groups, patients identified multiple barriers to cooking healthy meals, including trade-offs between quality, cost and convenience of food, chronic disease management and lack of time and interest. Each cooking class introduced a variety of cooking techniques and food preservation strategies. Participants demonstrated increased confidence in cooking (P 0·004), experimenting with new ingredients (P 0·006) and knowing how to make use of food before it goes bad (P 0·017). In post-class interviews, participants reported that they valued the social interaction and participatory format and that they had used the recipes and cooking techniques at home. CONCLUSIONS: A community-tailored, hands-on cooking class was an effective way to engage patients at a CHC and resulted in increased cooking confidence.

Nurse-led treatment for occipital neuralgia.

Occipital neuralgia is a headache resulting from dysfunction of the occipital nerves. Medically resistant occipital neuralgia is treated by greater occipital nerve injection, which is traditionally performed by neurologists. A nurse-led clinic was developed to try to improve the service. Patient feedback showed that the clinic was positively perceived by patients, with most stating the nurse-led model was more efficient than the previous one, which had been led by consultants.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of a fruit and vegetable prescription program at a federally qualified health center in low income uncontrolled diabetics.

Eating a healthy diet is important for managing diabetes. Although there are high rates of diabetes in low-income urban areas, these patients often have limited access to fruits and vegetables. The 15-week Fresh Prescription (Fresh Rx) program was designed to improve access and consumption of fruits and vegetables among low-income patients with diabetes in Detroit, MI. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fruit and vegetable prescription program on changes in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), blood pressure (BP), and body mass index (BMI) in patients with diabetes in a randomized controlled trial at a federally qualified health center (FQHC). Patients randomized to the Fresh Rx group (n = 56) were allotted up to $80 ($10 for up to eight weeks) for purchase of produce from a farmers market based at the FQHC. The control group (n = 56) received standard treatment plus information on community resources to improve health. Outcomes were compared at baseline and within three months of program completion. There were no significant between-group differences for any of the outcomes at program completion (p > .05); however, there was a small effect size for HbA1c (partial Î·2 = 0.02). Within the Fresh Rx group, HbA1c significantly decreased from 9.64% to 9.14% (p = 0.006). However, no changes were noted within the control group (9.38 to 9.41%, p = 0.89). BMI and BP did not change from pre- to post-study in either group (p > .05). Results from this study offer preliminary evidence that produce prescription programs may reduce HbA1C in low-income patients with diabetes.

The influence of social media on child feeding practices and beliefs among Hispanic mothers: A mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To identify factors that influence child feeding practices and beliefs among Hispanic mothers in a low-income community; (2) to describe the use of social media, other internet websites, and text messaging among Hispanic mothers; and (3) to explore mothers' perceptions of social media and/or text messaging interventions to prevent childhood obesity. METHODS: Mixed methods descriptive study with a sequential explanatory design. Hispanic mothers (N = 66) from Detroit, Michigan with children between 6 and 36 months of age completed surveys regarding their child feeding practices, the source (s) influencing these practices, and their use of social media, internet, and text messaging. During qualitative interviews (N = 19), we explored mothers' use of social media and internet websites to find child health information as well as mothers' perspectives on social media/internet/text messaging interventions to promote child health. RESULTS: Most survey respondents were between the ages of 20 and 39 years. One-third of mothers breastfed their child for >6 months; 68% did not introduce solids until their child was older than 6 months. The majority (96%) owned a cellphone; 75% used social media at least once daily. Few mothers indicated that social media and other internet websites influenced their child feeding decisions. During qualitative interviews (N = 19), almost all mothers expressed interest in social media and/or text messaging as a tool to communicate information regarding child health and feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic mothers had high rates of social media use and most desired social media/internet/text messaging interventions to promote child health.

Participation in a farmers' market fruit and vegetable prescription program at a federally qualified health center improves hemoglobin A1C in low income uncontrolled diabetics.

Fruit and vegetable prescription programs have been shown to increase consumption of fresh produce, but whether they have an impact on medical outcomes is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of participation in a farmers' market and fruit and vegetable prescription program on changes in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), blood pressure (BP) and weight in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Detroit, MI. The 13-week Fresh Prescription program (June 2015-October 2015) was designed to improve access and consumption of produce among low-income patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The program allotted up to $40 ($10 per week for up to four weeks) for purchase of produce from a FQHC located farmers' market. Adult, non-pregnant patients with a history of type 2 diabetes that had an elevated HbA1C > 6.5 within three months before Fresh Prescription program were eligible to participate. HgA1c, BP and weight were collected within three months of program start and within three months of completion. There were 65 eligible participants with complete biometric data. A statistically significant (p = 0.001) decrease in HbA1C was found (9.54% to 8.83%). However, weight (208.3 lbs. to 209.0 lbs.) and BP (135.1/79.3 mm Hg to 135.8/77.6 mm Hg) did not change from pre- to post-study (p > 0.05). Access to a fruit and vegetable prescription program over a 13-week period led to decreased HbA1C concentrations in uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients living in an urban area of predominately-lower socioeconomic status.