Applications of Human-Centered Design to Food Is Medicine Interventions: The THRIVE Pilot Trial

Top Things to Know

Engaging patients and stakeholders in the design of FIM interventions ensures cultural relevance, builds trust, and improves uptake.

Personalized coaching that respects cultural food practices and individual circumstances enhances the effectiveness of produce prescriptions and dietary counseling, making nutrition therapy more accessible and empowering.

Offering multiple access points for produce, adaptive communication strategies, and community-building elements like peer networks helps sustain behavior change and ensures that FIM programs are inclusive and scalable.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The THRIVE pilot trial applied human-centered design (HCD) to co-create a culturally tailored Food is Medicine intervention for Black and Hispanic adults with hypertension living in healthy food priority areas. Through three iterative design sessions, community members, health care providers, and food system stakeholders collaboratively developed the THRIVE model, which integrates personalized dietitian coaching, produce prescriptions, adaptive messaging, and social service linkages. Key findings emphasized the importance of culturally competent care, flexible food access, and peer support networks. Participants reported high engagement and satisfaction, with 100% feeling their contributions were valued and 92% recommending similar approaches for future interventions. The study concluded that integrating HCD with implementation science enhances the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of Food is Medicine programs. THRIVE offers a replicable framework for designing equitable, community-responsive nutrition interventions that address cardiovascular health disparities.