Feasibility of Strategies to Increase SNAP Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program Use for Families With Food Insecurity

NCT06593028 | Completed Phase 1

• 1 other identifier: Pro00120539
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 91
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The Veggie Vouchers pilot intervention aimed to increase awareness and utilization of an existing SNAP F\&V incentive program in South Carolina for families with food insecurity. Social determinants of health screenings were leveraged in a pediatric clinic to identify eligible families and provide information about this program. A free trial was then offered, with the long-term goal of increasing program use after the free trial ended. The primary aim was feasibility and acceptability of the Veggie Vouchers intervention among pediatricians and families.

Conditions

Dietary Habits

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (11)

• Intervention feasibility: recruitment screening eligibility

  Percent of caregivers screened who were eligible

  Through study completion, approximately 1 year

• Intervention feasibility: recruitment screening enrollment

  Percent of eligible caregivers who enrolled

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Intervention feasibility: recruitment duration

  Duration to reach the target sample

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Intervention feasibility: retention attendance

  Assessment completion rates

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Intervention feasibility: retention dropout

  Percent of sample that drops out or is lost to follow-up

  Through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Intervention acceptability: caregivers

  Acceptability was assessed via surveys on caregivers satisfaction of the intervention

  Upon completing the intervention, approximately 5 months after baseline

• Intervention acceptability: pediatricians

  Acceptability was assessed via surveys on pediatricians perceptions of the intervention

  Upon completing the intervention, approximately 1 year

• Intervention acceptability

  Exit surveys were used to assess reasons for low utilization of the intervention

  Upon completing the intervention, approximately 3 months after baseline

• Intervention utilization: free trial redemption

  How many free trial vouchers were ordered and received

  Through free trial period, approximately 3 months from baseline

• Intervention utilization: SNAP purchases (box frequency)

  Number of additional fruit and vegetable boxes purchased using SNAP electronics benefit card

  Through study completion, approximately 1 year

• Intervention utilization: SNAP purchases (family uptake)

  How many families purchased additional fruit and vegetable boxes using their SNAP electronics benefit card

  Through study completion, approximately 1 year

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Household food insecurity

  Baseline, after receiving each free fruit and vegetable box (~1x/month for 3 months after baseline), and end of the intervention (~5 months after baseline for redeemers; 3 months after baseline for non-redeemers)

• Household nutrition security

  Baseline, after receiving each free fruit and vegetable box (~1x/month for 3 months after baseline), and end of the intervention (~5 months after baseline for redeemers; 3 months after baseline for non-redeemers)

• Household healthfulness choice

  Baseline, after receiving each free fruit and vegetable box (~1x/month for 3 months after baseline), and end of the intervention (~5 months after baseline for redeemers; 3 months after baseline for non-redeemers)

• Household dietary choice

  Baseline, after receiving each free fruit and vegetable box (~1x/month for 3 months after baseline), and end of the intervention (~5 months after baseline for redeemers; 3 months after baseline for non-redeemers)

• Dietary intake

  Baseline, after receiving each free fruit and vegetable box (~1x/month for 3 months after baseline), and end of the intervention (~5 months after baseline for redeemers; 3 months after baseline for non-redeemers)

Study Arms (1)

Veggie Vouchers pilot intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

During well-child visits, caregivers received brief education from pediatricians about a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fruit and vegetable incentive program in South Carolina. Following the clinic visit, a free trial for this SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program was then offered. The free trial consisted of 3 vouchers, each good for one free fruit and vegetable box.

Behavioral: Veggie Vouchers pilot

Interventions

Veggie Vouchers pilot BEHAVIORAL

This intervention aims to increase awareness and use of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fruit and vegetable incentive program in South Carolina among families with young children experiencing food insecurity. To do so, brief education about this SNAP program is delivered by pediatricians to caregivers during well-child visits. Subsequently, caregivers are given 3 free produce boxes as a free trial of this program to incentivize first time use.

Veggie Vouchers pilot intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years of age or older
• Had a child 2-17 years of age
• Child lived in their home 50% of the time or more
• Child was a patient of the general pediatrics clinic enrolled in this study
• English-speaking
• Enrolled in SNAP
• Experiencing household food insecurity

You may not qualify if:

• Had purchased fruits and vegetables within the past year at the community food site participating in this study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of South Carolina: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina, 29204, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Adams EL, Savidge M, Reesor-Oyer L, Draper C, Steeves EA, Bean MK, Figueroa R, Stephenson K, Weaver RG, Armstrong B, Beets M, Burkart S. The Veggie Vouchers intervention to promote SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program use for families with food insecurity: a single arm feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2025 Dec 2;11(1):157. doi: 10.1186/s40814-025-01732-3.

  PMID: 41331706 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 6, 2024
• First Posted: September 19, 2024
• Study Start: June 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2023
• Study Completion: December 31, 2023
• Last Updated: September 19, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-09

Locations

US (1)