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BACKGROUND: New York City's (NYC's) taxi/for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers have occupational and demographic characteristics associated with food insecurity (low income, comorbidities, minority race/ethnicity). OBJECTIVE: To analyze food insecurity rates in a sample of NYC drivers and to identify associated factors. METHODS: At health fairs, we recruited a cross-sectional sample of licensed taxi/FHV drivers willing to receive study text messages. Most lacked a primary care provider. Food insecurity prevalence and associations with health and economic indicators were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 503 participants who completed a 2-item food security screener, 39.2% were food insecure. Significantly fewer food insecure than food secure drivers reported a doctor visit within the past year (48% vs 25%; P <.001). Food insecure drivers had greater weekly traffic ticket expenditure ($34 vs $24; P =.02) and were more likely to report insufficient household income (61% vs 39%; P <.001) and history of depression (14% vs 7%; P =.02), to have elevated (>200) measured total cholesterol (50% vs 37%; P =.02), and to have Perceived Stress Scale scores indicating greater stress than food secure drivers (14 vs 11; P =.002). In a binary logistic regression analysis, drivers who reported that their total household income was enough to meet their basic needs had significantly lower odds of being food insecure (0.695 odds ratio; P =.016). CONCLUSION: Food insecurity was high in this group of taxi/FHV drivers. Food insecurity interventions are needed and could be occupationally based, with worksite screening and resource navigation. Policies should address improving wages and healthcare access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Food insecurity, which leads to adverse health outcomes, has even more severe implications for cancer patients. Yet medically underserved cancer patients are more likely to be food insecure than the general population. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of intake data from patients who participated in the Integrated Cancer Care Access Network (ICCAN). ICCAN is a specialized program that addresses socioeconomic barriers to cancer care among underserved cancer patients in NYC. This study utilized ICCAN data from 2011 to 2017. The USDA food insecurity score, self-reported SNAP receipt, and SNAP eligibility based on household income were compared between SNAP and non-SNAP recipients. Results: 681 patients were assessed for food insecurity. Sixty-nine percent of participants lived in food insecure households. Despite SNAP assistance, most SNAP recipients (68%) were food insecure; 69% of respondents who did not receive SNAP were also food insecure. Conclusions: Underserved cancer patients who receive SNAP are still food insecure, hence at more significant risk for its associated negative outcomes. Supplemental programs for patients with chronic diseases are needed in clinics with large low income populations. SNAP benefits should account for the additional financial burden posed by treatment costs and exceptional circumstances faced by cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]