Introduction
Diet-related disease is disproportionally concentrated in low-income communities where fruit and vegetable consumption is far below guidelines. To address financial barriers, Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB)—a statewide healthy food incentive—matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds spent at farmers markets. However, incentive use is limited. This study examined the impact of a brief waiting room–based intervention about DUFB on program utilization and produce consumption.
Study design
Longitudinal, repeated measures, quasi-experimental trial.
Setting/participants
SNAP—enrolled adults at a health center in a low-income, racially and ethnically diverse area of Southeast Michigan.
Intervention
Participants received a brief explanation of DUFB, written program materials, a map highlighting market locations and hours, and an initial $10 market voucher. DUFB use and produce consumption were measured through four surveys over 5 months (August 2014–January 2015).
Main outcome measures
Outcome measures included DUFB use and fruit and vegetable consumption (analyses conducted in 2015–2016).
Results
A total of 302 eligible adults were identified, and 177 (59%) enrolled. One hundred twenty-seven (72%) completed all surveys. At baseline, 57% of participants reported shopping at a farmers market within the last year; 18% had previously used DUFB. By the end of the DUFB season, participants were significantly more likely to report DUFB use than at baseline (AOR=19.2, 95% CI=10.3, 35.5, p<0.001), with 69% of participants reporting use of DUFB at least once, and 34% reporting use of DUFB three or more times. Adjusted fruit and vegetable consumption increased from baseline by 0.65 servings/day (95% CI=0.37, 0.93, p<0.001) at 3 months, and remained 0.62 servings/day (95% CI=0.32, 0.92, p<0.001) higher than baseline 2 months post-DUFB season.
Conclusions
A brief clinic-based intervention was associated with a nearly fourfold increase in uptake of a SNAP incentive, as well as clinically significant increases in produce consumption. Results suggested sustained behavior change even once the financial incentive was no longer available. Providing information about healthy food incentives is a low-cost, easily implemented intervention that may increase produce consumption among low-income patients.