Food and Friends: Healthy Meals Delivered to You

NCT ID: NCT06415370

Last Updated: 2025-02-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

66 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-08-14

Study Completion Date

2024-11-15

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if home delivered healthy meals (HDHM) with or without (intervention vs. control) social interaction can impact mental health and food security in adults aged 65 and older who live alone and have trouble accessing food.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does HDHM with or without social interaction change the quality of participant food intake? Does HDHM with or without social interaction change the loneliness that participants may experience? Does HDHM with or without social interaction change the depression that participants may experience?

Researchers will compare a group that receives HDHM only to a group that receives HDHM and social interaction to see if there is a difference between the two groups in their experienced loneliness and depression, and the quality of food that they eat.

Participants will receive 12 weeks' worth of HDHM delivered to their home. Half of the participants will receive weekly phone calls from volunteer student "companions) Participants will also be asked to complete questionnaires over the phone at three timepoints (baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks) during the study. Some participants may also be asked to give their opinions on the program via a telephone conversation.

Detailed Description

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This study is a randomized control trial (RCT) to measure the impact of a combined social interaction and culturally tailored home delivered healthy meals (HDHM) intervention on participants' mental health and food insecurity compared to those in the control group receiving HDHM alone. In addition, the study aims to test the feasibility of including structured, consistent social interactions as part of HDHM.

This study will include a sample size of 60 participants. Participants in the study will be randomized to a HDHM only group (control), or HDHM with social interactions group (intervention). All participants will receive HDHM (a frozen meal product based on the Mediterranean Diet adapted for United States Southeastern taste preferences) for 12 weeks.

The study team will collect data from participants at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks via a telephone-administered survey.

A subgroup of 10 participants (5 from the intervention, 5 from the control group) will participate in informant interviews to assess feasibility.

Conditions

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Mental Health Issue Food Insecurity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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HDHM and Social Interaction (Intervention)

Home delivered healthy meals are delivered in-person, including a "friendly visit" with the participant if the participant desires. Student companions will also contact participants at least one time weekly for telephone reassurance and to provide resource referrals.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Home Delivered Healthy Meals

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

In-person delivery of HDHM at least one time weekly for 12 weeks.

In-person "friendly visits"

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

"Friendly visits" last approximately 5-10 minutes and include brief "wellness check" questions such as, "How are you doing today?" "Did you try \[HDHM recipe\] yesterday- how did it taste? Any suggestions for future flavors?" "What are some of the things you plan to do in the next few days?" "Is there anything else you want to share with me?"

Student Companion calls

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Student Companions call participants at least one time weekly to provide telephone reassurance- i.e., checking on the participant's well-being. These calls may also include referrals to appropriate resources such as NCCARE 360 (statewide network that connects individuals with complex health and social needs, to community resources and service)

HDHM Only (Control)

Home delivered healthy meals are delivered directly to the participant or dropped off at the participant's home in a cooler at their front door if they are not available. Any interaction will be limited.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Home Delivered Healthy Meals

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

In-person delivery of HDHM at least one time weekly for 12 weeks.

Interventions

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Home Delivered Healthy Meals

In-person delivery of HDHM at least one time weekly for 12 weeks.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

In-person "friendly visits"

"Friendly visits" last approximately 5-10 minutes and include brief "wellness check" questions such as, "How are you doing today?" "Did you try \[HDHM recipe\] yesterday- how did it taste? Any suggestions for future flavors?" "What are some of the things you plan to do in the next few days?" "Is there anything else you want to share with me?"

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Student Companion calls

Student Companions call participants at least one time weekly to provide telephone reassurance- i.e., checking on the participant's well-being. These calls may also include referrals to appropriate resources such as NCCARE 360 (statewide network that connects individuals with complex health and social needs, to community resources and service)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 65 and older
* Live alone
* Screen positive for food insecurity or have a medical professional concerned about their food security
* Diagnosed with at least 1 diet-related chronic illness
* Be a Medicaid/Medicare dual beneficiary
* Speak English
* Have a microwave

Exclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of dementia/Alzheimer's
* Presence of illness or allergies that would preclude consuming HDHM
Minimum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Humana Foundation

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, PhD, MHA

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Locations

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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24-0190

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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