(PS14-18) The Power of Community Based Settings: Partnering with Food Pantries to Disseminate a Digital Eating Disorder Intervention

Sunday, November 17, 2024

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST

Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown

Author(s)

Chidiebere Azubuike, M.S.

Research Study Coordinator
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Co-Author(s)

Lindsay D. Lipman, B.A.

Research Assistant
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Leah M. Parsons, B.S.

Research Assistant
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Isabel R. Rooper, B.A.

Research Study Coordinator
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Adrian Ortega, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Andrea K. Graham, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Abstract Text: Background: As access to specialty care has become less prevalent and accessible, more focus has been placed on meeting people where they are to promote physical and behavioral health services. Health services, such as interventions for diabetes, hypertension, and anxiety, are being disseminated and implemented in non-healthcare community settings, including churches, libraries, and barbershops. Yet, eating disorder services have not typically been delivered in community-based settings. As growing research is showing connection between food insecurity and eating disorders, food pantries may be potentially viable sites for disseminating and implementing eating disorder interventions. We are working to build mutually beneficial partnerships with food pantries in Chicago to highlight the voices of the community we hope to serve in a clinical trial of a digital intervention for binge eating, as well as to be a dissemination channel for the intervention. This study describes the opportunities and challenges we have identified in this effort.

Methods: We initiated collaborations with pantries by contacting pantry supervisors, attending community events, and networking with researchers in the field.

Results: We identified several opportunities and challenges. First, food pantries serve a large, relevant population of community members, many of whom struggle to access health services. Therefore, implementing an eating disorder intervention on-site could be a welcome resource for guests, both to address their eating disorder and improve how they utilize their food resources given the impact of disordered eating on resource utilization. Second, community members frequently access food pantries and regard them as trusted settings with referrals for resources on nutrition and health. This presents an opportunity for trusted pantry staff to introduce community members to relevant services. However, one challenge is that many pantries lack the staffing and resources (e.g., WiFi) needed to offer eating disorder services and facilitate consistent referrals. Implementation strategies were identified to avoid burdening staff while educating guests about services (e.g., having brochures available) and facilitating referrals to the intervention (e.g., on-site registration). Discussion: As essential community locations, food pantries could be a beneficial community-based setting for disseminating and implementing eating disorder interventions due to their reach and high regard within the community. As we continue to build relationships with community partners, we will explore how to optimally engage pantries to offer eating disorder services and referrals while identifying ways to deliver mutual value to pantries through clinical research partnerships.