“The coupons and stuff just made it possible”: economic constraints and patient experiences of a produce prescription program

Top Things to Know

The program fostered positive interactions between patients and providers, enhancing the sense of care and increasing produce consumption.

Economic hardships limited the sustainability of behavior changes post-program.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The study investigated the experiences of participants in a produce prescription program for hypertensive adults at three safety net clinics in Cleveland, OH. Participants reported positive interactions with providers, increased fruit and vegetable intake, and greater knowledge of farmers’ markets. However, providers faced challenges integrating the program into their workflow, and economic hardships limited participants’ ability to maintain behavior changes after the program ended.