Impact of Food Assistance on Treatment Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Food-Insecure Cancer Pts

Impact of Food Assistance on Treatment Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Food-Insecure Cancer Patients Undergoing Active Treatment

Prospective cohort and descriptive study aimed at identifying cancer patients experiencing food insecurity at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study will involve evaluating the impact of a food assistance intervention on treatment adherence and clinical outcomes among food-insecure patients on active treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients (≥18 years old) with a current diagnosis of cancer
• Patients attending outpatient services at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Patients who are willing to participate and provide informed consent
• Responding "sometimes true" or "often true" to at least one of the two validate Hunger Vital Sign Screening questions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are unable to provide informed consent due to cognitive impairment or language barriers
• Patients who are enrolled in other clinical trials that prohibit participation in additional research
• Patients who do not consent to being included in the food insecurity registry
• Patients with medical conditions other than cancer