PC1011: Using a Qr Code to Connect Families to Food Resources – a Novel Tool for Addressing Food Insecurity in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Background: During the Covid-19 pandemic, food insecurity (FI) tripled in households with children. FI has been linked to poor health outcomes such as obesity, asthma, and depression, and increased rates of emergency department (ED) use. Though connection to food resources can improve health outcomes, answering FI screening questions may invoke stigma among families who prefer anonymity. Yet, the frequency that families will utilize anonymous, universal resources is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess family interest in using an anonymous and independently accessed Quick Response (QR) code displayed on a poster in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED).

Methods: Using https://www.qr-code-generator.com, a QR code was created which allowed any user with a smartphone camera to access the website: ineedfoodnow.org. Created and trademarked by affiliates of Vanderbilt University, the website contains downloadable food resource packets in multiple languages, healthy food tips and videos, and additional website links to Aunt Bertha, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The QR code was placed on food resource posters with information in multiple languages. On December 28, 2021, fifty posters were displayed in triage, patient rooms, and shared bathrooms throughout the PED. From January 1, 2022 to March 13, 2022, the number of unique scans per day and time of unique scans were tracked. PED volumes were also recorded. We used descriptive statistics to characterize included variables.

Results: For the data collection period, there were 94 unique scans, ranging from 0-5 scans per day. The median number of scans per day was 1.0. The number of scans per 100 patient encounters was 1.0. The most scans occurred during midday (1601-2200, n=31) and evening (2201-0400, n=27) shifts.

Conclusion: This pilot data demonstrates that the novel approach of an anonymous and independently accessed QR code on a poster is an acceptable method for providing food resources to families. We plan to further explore the utility of the QR code through continued data collection and expansion of the posters to the pediatric inpatient floor.