Influence of a pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program in Flint Michigan on caregiver perceptions of pediatric health care

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric clinics have introduced fruit and vegetable prescription programs to address health care disparities. This study assessed whether exposure to a fruit and vegetable prescription program that provided young patients with $15 produce prescriptions during office visits was associated with improvements in caregiver perceptions of pediatric care and if this differed by program engagement. 

METHODS: This non-controlled longitudinal intervention trial included data from a consecutive sample of caregiver-child dyads at one pediatric clinic. Data were collected from February 2021 through May 2024. At baseline, 12-, and 24-months, caregivers completed the 23-item Parent's Perceptions of Primary Care measure which yielded a total score, and seven subscale scores dichotomized to evaluate probability of giving a maximum score. Program engagement was defined as redemption of at least one prescription. Marginal means and predicted probabilities of outcomes, linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models were estimated. 

RESULTS: 247 dyads were included. Trends in overall satisfaction scores (p-interaction = 0.01) and subscales for communication (p-interaction = 0.06) and coordination of care (p-interaction = 0.02) increased among engaged participants and remained stable or decreased among non-engaged participants. 

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program engagement is positively associated with caregiver perceptions of pediatric health care.