Fresh RX: NHS 2020

Description

This study is an evaluation of the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts program administered by Operation Food Search, a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization. The program provides food and nutrition supports to food insecure pregnant women in conjunction with integrative care services in order to improve health and birth outcomes for both the mother and the child. The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of this approach through a field experiment, and to assess the extent to which these services can provide cost savings to the healthcare system.

Conditions

Premature Birth, Birth Weight, Post Partum Depression, Health Care Utilization, Nutrition Deficiency Due to Insufficient Food, Housing Problems, Fetal Complications, Food Deprivation

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This study is an evaluation of the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts program administered by Operation Food Search, a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization. The program provides food and nutrition supports to food insecure pregnant women in conjunction with integrative care services in order to improve health and birth outcomes for both the mother and the child. The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of this approach through a field experiment, and to assess the extent to which these services can provide cost savings to the healthcare system.

Fresh RX: Nourishing Healthy Starts Clinical Study

Fresh RX: NHS 2020

Condition
Premature Birth
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Saint Louis

Operation Food Search Inc., Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63132

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Female
  • * Pregnant
  • * Less than 24 weeks gestation
  • * Screening positive to a USDA two-item food insecurity screener (described below)
  • * Receiving care through a Missouri Medicaid managed care organization
  • * English speaking
  • * Age 14-55
  • * Missouri resident residing in the following zip codes: 63031, 63033, 63042, 63074, 63114, 63121, 63130, 63132, 63133, 63135, 63136, 63137, 63138, 63140
  • * Male
  • * Non-pregnant
  • * Pregnant, but more than 24 weeks gestation
  • * Does not screen positive to a USDA two-item food insecurity screener (described below)
  • * Does not receive care through the Home State Health managed care organization
  • * Non-English speaking
  • * Aged less than 14 or more than 55
  • * Does not reside in the following zip codes: 63031, 63033, 63042, 63074, 63114, 63121, 63130, 63132, 63133, 63135, 63136, 63137, 63138, 63140

Ages Eligible for Study

14 Years to 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Washington University School of Medicine,

Stephen Roll, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Washington University School of Medicine

Study Record Dates

2026-09-15