Danielle Cullen|Ashley L. Woodford|Joel A. Fein
Food for Thought: A Randomized Trial of Food Insecurity Screening in the Emergency Department
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia|Thomas Jefferson University|Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
despite growing interest screening food insecurity clinical setting little evidence exists regarding screening formats maximize disclosure caregiver comfortin randomized trial asked englishspeaking adult caregivers pediatric patients emergency department urban freestanding childrens hospital complete validated 2question screen food insecurity respondents assigned via block randomization complete survey either verbal interview electronic tablet caregivers reported perceived importance screening questions comfort level screening emergency department childs primary care site preferred screening modalityof 1818 participants 206 screened positive food insecurity significantly higher rate reported food insecurity screened tablet 236 compared screened verbally 177 p 002 preference screening modality 832 participants 845 patients reporting food insecurity preferred tabletbased screen verbal interview overall participants reported comfort completing screen emergency department compared childs doctors office however comfort setting rated highly 861 vs 802 p 001although verbal interview tabletbased screening modalities effective identifying food insecurity tabletbased screening higher disclosure rate participants preferred screening method high level comfort screening regardless clinical setting possible added level anonymity emergency department enhanced participants comfort levels