A novel way of delivering nutritional education is through experiential learning in a teaching kitchen setting. Studies have shown that patients with metabolic syndrome who underwent a series of classes that featured nutrition recommendations and cooking classes had improved cardiac health. Boston Medical Center (BMC) serves many underserved, low-income patients and has developed an innovative strategy to combat food insecurity and its consequences. This includes a preventative food pantry, a teaching kitchen, and a rooftop farm that provides fresh produce directly to the patients. The presence of this well-established three-pronged approach places our institution in an ideal position to develop a nutritional education intervention that supports experiential learning in this high-risk population. Given the increasing focus on providing remote experiences to minimize contact and risk of infection with Sars-COV-2, the investigators are proposing a study where patients can benefit from nutritional education virtually. Patients with food insecurity and metabolic syndrome who utilize the food pantry will be invited to an educational program conducted on zoom. The program will be run by a registered dietician and chef who will deliver education virtually. Data will be collected using surveys, phone interviews, chart review, and home monitoring to test both the feasibility of running such an intervention virtually and to explore whether attending this program improves cardiac health in patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
The curriculum for the four classes include understanding MyPlate guidelines, learn basic knife skills, meal prep, and plan, home farming and no-cook cooking.
Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
recruitment rates
based on number of people invited to participate, number recruited and consented and number attended
Time frame: 12 months
retention rates
based on attendance at each virtual educational session
Time frame: 12 months
facilitators for nutritional education
information will be obtained through qualitative interviews
Time frame: 12 months
barriers to nutritional education
information will be obtained through qualitative interviews
Time frame: 12 months
knowledge of healthy foods
through qualitative interview
Time frame: 12 months
change in blood pressure (BP)
Baseline BP will be extracted from medical chart. Subjects will be provided with a home BP cuff. BP measurements performed by the patient will be recorded on the BP app. The 6 month follow BP will be extracted from the medical chart if available.
Time frame: baseline, up to 6 months
change in blood glucose
Baseline blood glucose will be extracted from medical chart. Subjects will use their own glucometer to measure their blood glucose. glucose measurements performed by the patient will be recorded on the glucometer. The 6 month follow blood glucose will be extracted from the medical chart if available.
Time frame: baseline, up to 6 months
change in hemoglobin A1c
Baseline will be extracted from the chart and 6 month will be extracted from the chart if available
Time frame: baseline, 6 months
change in weight
Baseline weight will be extracted from medical chart. Subjects will be provided with a home scale. weight measurements performed by the patient will be recorded on the scale app. The 6 month follow weight will be extracted from the medical chart if available.
Time frame: baseline, up to 6 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.