Date of Degree

12-2022

Document Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Program

Nursing

Advisor

Michael D. Moon

Abstract

Background. Students attending universities have higher rates of food insecurity than U.S. households. Most college campuses do not routinely screen students for food insecurity, which can affect students’ health and school performance. Currently, the university health clinic does not screen students for food insecurity. Purpose. To screen all students who present to the university clinic for food insecurity and evaluate students with food insecurity for malnutrition. Evidence. Foreman et al. (2018) and Abu and Oldewage-Theron (2019) found that food insecurity was present at some of the largest Texas universities at rates higher than the national average. Project Objectives. To screen 80-90% of patients aged 18-25 years who visited the university clinic for food insecurity; to decrease the percentage of patients with very low food security score by 100%; and to decrease the percentage of patients with malnutrition by 100%. Methods. Two validated screening tools were used to screen students between the ages of 18-25 years evaluated at the clinic for food insecurity and malnutrition. Treatment criteria were established for those students identified as being food insecure utilizing established clinical practice guidelines. Results. Results show 97% (n = 116) of 120 patients have been screened, 92.5% (n = 111) have been classified as high food secure, 5% (n = 7) were classified as low food secure, 2% (n = 2) were classified as very low food secure. One patient was identified as being malnourished. Implications. Identifying students with food insecurity, treating malnutrition, and providing food resources can improve overall student health.

Download

Share

COinS