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Table 1 Descriptive statistics from the baseline and follow-up surveys of a 12-week fresh food prescription program in Guelph, Ontario, Canada in 2019–2020

From: “I was eating more fruits and veggies than I have in years”: a mixed methods evaluation of a fresh food prescription intervention

Characteristic

% (n) or mean (95% confidence interval), baseline survey

% (n) or mean (95% confidence interval), follow-up survey

p-valuea for significance test between baseline and follow-up surveys, if applicable

Total Participants

60

36

N/A

Referring CHC

 Downtown Guelph CHC

40% (24)

57% (21)

N/A

 Shelldale CHC

60% (36)

43% (16)

N/A

Age Group (years)

 20 to 34

17% (10)

22% (8)

N/A

 35 to 49

32% (19)

30% (11)

N/A

 50 to 64

38% (23)

36% (13)

N/A

 65+

10% (6)

11% (4)

N/A

 Prefer not to answer

3% (2)

0

N/A

Genderb

 Female

77% (46)

71% (25)

N/A

 Male

22% (13)

29% (10)

N/A

 Prefer not to identify

2% (1)

3% (1)

N/A

Household Size

 One

27% (16)

26% (9)

N/A

 Two

32% (19)

43% (15)

N/A

 Three

8% (5)

3% (1)

N/A

 Four

12% (7)

14% (5)

N/A

 Five or more

22% (13)

17% (6)

N/A

Number of Children in Household

 Zero

53% (32)

58% (21)

N/A

 One

13% (8)

11% (4)

N/A

 Two

13% (8)

11% (4)

N/A

 Three

15% (9)

8% (3)

N/A

 Four or more

5% (3)

11% (4)

N/A

Employment Status

 Full-time employed

7% (4)

3% (1)

N/A

 Part-time employed

15% (9)

8% (3)

N/A

 Unable to work because of sickness or disability

38% (23)

39% (14)

N/A

 Unemployed

13% (8)

31% (11)

N/A

 Retired

15% (9)

8% (3)

N/A

 Volunteering

5% (3)

6% (2)

N/A

 Looking after family

2% (1)

3% (1)

N/A

 Student

3% (2)

3% (1)

N/A

 Prefer not to answer

2% (1)

0

N/A

Receiving Ontario Disability Support Program

 Yes

52% (31)

64% (23)

N/A

 No

48% (29)

36% (13)

N/A

Estimated Household Annual Income

 $0 - $9999

15% (9)

N/A

N/A

 $10,000 - $19,999

40% (24)

N/A

N/A

 $20,000 - $29,000

15% (9)

N/A

N/A

 $30,000 - $39,000

5% (3)

N/A

N/A

 $40,000 - $49,000

3% (2)

N/A

N/A

 $50,000+

3% (2)

N/A

N/A

 Do not know / prefer not to answer

18% (11)

N/A

N/A

Food Security Scores

 Mean adult food security score

4.1 (3.3–4.9)

2.5 (1.6–3.3)

< 0.001

 Mean child food security score

1.9 (0.9–2.9)

0.93 (0.1–0.9)

0.01

Food Security Status

 Food secure

3% (2)

25% (9)

N/A

 Marginally food insecure

10% (6)

19% (7)

N/A

 Moderately food insecure

55% (33)

36% (13)

N/A

 Severely food insecure

32% (19)

17% (6)

N/A

 Prefer not to answer

0

3% (1)

N/A

Health outcomes

 Depression

63% (38)

58% (21)

N/A

 Anxiety

57% (34)

50% (18)

N/A

 Arthritis

47% (28)

36% (13)

N/A

 Iron deficiency anemia

37% (22)

33% (12)

N/A

 Hypertension

35% (21)

33% (12)

N/A

 Vit D deficiency

31% (19)

22% (8)

N/A

 Vit B12 deficiency

28% (17)

19% (7)

N/A

 Migraines

28% (17)

42% (15)

N/A

 High cholesterol, triglycerides, or lipids

25% (15)

22% (7)

N/A

 Diabetes

25% (15)

25% (9)

N/A

  Type 1

2% (1)

3% (1)

 

  Type 2

13% (8)

6% (2)

 

  Unsure of Type

10% (6)

17% (6)

 

 Asthma

22% (13)

25% (9)

N/A

 Stress fracture

20% (12)

8% (3)

N/A

 Hypothyroidism

18% (11)

6% (2)

N/A

 Concussions or head injuries

17% (10)

25% (9)

N/A

Self-reported physical health

 Mean physical health score

2.3 (1.8–2.8)

2.8 (2.4–3.2)

0.13

 Poor

27% (16)

36% (13)

N/A

 Unsatisfactory

15% (9)

17% (6)

N/A

 Fair

28% (17)

25% (9)

N/A

 Good

27% (16)

19% (7)

N/A

 Excellent

3% (2)

0

N/A

 Prefer not to answer

0

2% (1)

N/A

Self-reported mental health

 Mean mental health score

2.4 (1.9–2.8)

2.3 (1.8–2.7)

0.67

 Poor

22% (13)

25% (9)

N/A

 Unsatisfactory

15% (9)

19% (7)

N/A

 Fair

30% (18)

22% (8)

N/A

 Good

23% (14)

22% (8)

N/A

 Excellent

7% (4)

11% (4)

N/A

 Prefer not to answer

3% (2)

0

N/A

Self-reported social relationships

 Mean social relationships score

1.7 (1.2–2.2)

1.9 (1.5–2.4)

0.41

 Poor

17% (10)

14% (5)

N/A

 Unsatisfactory

8% (5)

8% (3)

N/A

 Fair

17% (10)

31% (11)

N/A

 Good

42% (25)

39% (14)

N/A

 Excellent

17% (10)

6% (2)

N/A

 Prefer not to answer

0

3% (1)

N/A

Mean Weekly Frequency of Consumption of Fruits and Vegetablesc

 Juice

2.4 (0.98–3.8)

2.8 (1.2–4.4)

0.68

 Fruit

4.7 (2.3–7.0)

8.5 (5.6–11.5)

0.05

 Dark green vegetables

5.5 (3.1–7.9)

5.2 (3.7–6.8)

0.82

 Orange vegetables

3.1 (0.74–5.5)

4.2 (2.9–5.6)

0.46

 Potatoes

3.2 (1.2–5.2)

2.7 (1.9–3.6)

0.55

 Other vegetables

3.5 (2.2–4.7)

5.2 (3.6–6.9)

0.02

  1. ap-values reflect pairwise t-test for differences in means between baseline and follow up
  2. bResponses to gender were open ended (not selected from a checklist)
  3. cDark green vegetables include broccoli, green beans, peas, green peppers, and dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce and spinach. Orange vegetables include carrots, orange bell peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and squash. Other vegetables include cucumber, celery, corn, cabbage, and vegetable juice