A Qualitative Exploration of Lived Food Insecurity Experiences Among Harvard Medical Students.

BACKGROUND

Food insecurity is an unmet basic need for some US medical students, yet no qualitative study has critically explored this issue among this population.

OBJECTIVE

To qualitatively explore the impact of food insecurity on health and well-being among medical students and to identify coping strategies and relevant support systems.

DESIGN

In-depth, semi-structured interviews at the Harvard Medical School located in Boston, MA.

PARTICIPANTS

Medical students (n = 25).

APPROACH: An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to systematically identify codes and themes.

KEY

RESULTS

Food insecurity affected medical students' health and well-being in multiple ways. Students with food insecurity faced (1) distinct barriers in accessing affordable food during the different stages of medical school; (2) feelings of alienation from their peers; (3) impacts on physical health, including dietary behaviors and quality, sleep, and physical activity; (4) impacts on mental health such as stress, embarrassment, and guilt; and (5) impacts on social interactions and academic performance. Coping strategies for food insecurity included relying on friends, families/partners, or administration for support, meal preparation, taking out more loans, using government assistance programs despite many barriers that hinder participation, and relying on free food to reduce food insecurity, among other strategies.

LIMITATIONS: The generalizability of the findings to other US medical students is limited, given all participants were recruited from one private university in Boston.

CONCLUSIONS

Food insecurity affects multiple facets of health and well-being for US medical students. Institutional interventions and policies are urgently needed to address this issue and its impacts among future healthcare professionals.