Food for cancer health equity: A qualitative study among people with cancer who are low-income, Latino or Hispanic, immigrant, and individuals with multiple minoritized races and ethnicities

PURPOSE: Food insecurity is prevalent among patients with cancer. Gaps in our understanding of preferences for food assistance among Latino or Hispanic, immigrant, and people with multiple races and ethnicities limit uptake of food assistance interventions among these populations. We aimed to deeply understand the needs and preferences and barriers to food assistance intervention uptake among low-income, predominantly Latino or Hispanic, immigrant, and people with multiple races and ethnicities and cancer to inform development of tailored interventions. 

METHODS: Participants were recruited among low-income adult patients with cancer who screened positive for food insecurity using the two-item Hunger Vital Sign as part of an ongoing parent randomized controlled trial evaluating a precision medicine intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess dietary habits, barriers to food security, and preferences for intervention. Interview responses were transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed using an inductive-deductive iterative approach. 

RESULTS: Among 40 (36.4%) participants in the parent randomized trial who screened positive for food insecurity, 20 (50%) were randomly selected to participate in this study. The mean age of participants was 56 years, 17 (85%) self-identified as Latino or Hispanic, 17 (85%) identified Spanish as their preferred language, 13 (65%) reported annual household income <$34,000 in US dollars, and 12 (60%) were unemployed. Three main themes emerged: (1) individualized nutritional needs and culturally specific food preferences; (2) financial, logistical, and emotional barriers to food security; and (3) self-efficacy, autonomy, and approaches to reduce stigma in food assistance interventions. 

CONCLUSION: Assessing and integrating the needs and preferences for food assistance is crucial for the development and uptake of food assistance interventions among Latino or Hispanic, immigrant, and other racial and ethnic minoritized individuals with cancer.