An exploration of ProduceRx experiences and impact among low–income individuals with uncontrolled diabetes in California
following the COVID-19 pandemic and youth perspectives and priorities.Objective: To describe a youth-centered initiative that aims to (1) identify youth-prioritized health and SDoH needs resulting from COVID-19 and (2) inform hospital decision-makers through youths' lived experiences-providing leaders a better understanding of patient family and community conditions impacting health.Methods: Twenty-seven Youth Advisors used a communitybased participatory research method, Photo voice, to document the effects of COVID-19 on their health and well-being and its continued impact on their families and communities in Northeast Ohio.Working in three teams, Youth Advisors developed visual narratives told through their collective photographs, focusing on changes in their communities (positive or negative) observed since the pandemic, including changes that were most useful and/or impactful.Results: Youth Advisors identified the following priorities to guide future collaboration between the Council and hospital leaders: mental health awareness (insufficient direct communication to youth regarding available resources and services); community engagement (past hospital efforts haven't authentically connected to youth or recognized extant community strengths), food accessibility (growing adverse impact of community food insecurity on youth wellbeing), and financial literacy (recognizing economic stability as essential for health and resilience in the face of emergencies disasters and pandemics).Conclusion: Accessing youth perspective through communitybased participatory methods proved to be both acceptable and feasible for not only youth but also health system leaders and decision-makers.
Authors
- Claudia Nau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0373-2560)
- Titilola Labisi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0379-557X)
- Jessica Vallejo
Institutions
- Kaiser Permanente (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Health Services Research
- Published
- 2025-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.14554
- Primary Topic
- Diabetes Management and Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00