WIP 77 - Exploring an Association Between Patient Characteristics, Interpreter Use, Food Insecurity Screening, Food Insecurity, and Connection with Resources in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Poster Number: WIP 77
Publication Number: WIP 77.939

Background: Food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain access to food, is associated with greater health expenditure, poorer health outcomes, and higher likelihood for hospitalization. Food insecurity is common among patients in the pediatric emergency department (ED), and several institutions have responded by establishing food distribution programs. Prior literature has found associations with food insecurity and patient demographic factors such as lower socioeconomic status, Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, and decreased English fluency. However, the association between patient characteristics and interpreter use with equitable screening and distribution of resources has yet to be explored.

Objective: We evaluated the association between interpreter use and other patient characteristics with food insecurity screening, presence of food insecurity and connection with food resources within a pediatric ED.

Design/Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of caregivers of patients presenting to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago ED from June 2021 through June 2022. The Institutional Review Board at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago determined that this study was exempt from human subject review (IRB: 2021-4665). During this time, caregivers of pediatric patients, and patients above the age of 18, presenting to the Lurie ED were eligible to be screened for food insecurity. Caregivers who screened positive for food insecurity were offered shelf-stable food and food resources (information for local food pantries, SNAP, and other food access resources). Data were extracted from the electronic medical record. By February 2024, we will complete our analysis using a multivariable logistic regression to explore the association of interpreter use with 1) food insecurity screening performed; 2) presence of food insecurity; and 3) connection with food and food resources, adjusting for patient sex, age, race and ethnicity, insurance status, acuity, and shift of presentation (day, evening, overnight).