Multi-Level Intervention Combining Digital Food and Nutrition Literacy Education With PSE Changes to Improve Nutrition Security.

To tailor digital food and nutrition literacy (DFNL) education and PSE changes to improve nutrition security in low-income adults, while engaging students in experiential learning. Multi-dimensional literacy and behavior change frameworks to improve DFNL literacy and ability to use digital resources to improve access to healthy food. SNAP-eligible adults from a low-income, low-food access CT county. The project includes assessment of food environment, diet quality and DFNL level of target population for development of a tailored DFNL curriculum. Feasibility study of the DFNL education will assess program acceptance and preliminary impact on improving nutrition security. The experiential learning includes self-assessment of community nutrition knowledge, skills, and competence for individualized student learning and tracking progress in project-associated experiences aligned with USDA's framework of nutrition security. Mixed methods including quantitative online surveys and qualitative interviews. Students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes will be evaluated via a baseline and post self-assessment survey. Progress toward achieving entry-level competence in public health/community nutrition will be assessed via a self-monitoring tracking document. From an online survey (276 adults), highest diet quality was associated with healthier perceived home food environments and multiple food assistance program participation. Ordering groceries online interacted with perceived food environments—poorest diet quality was reported by adults not ordering groceries online and perceiving less healthy store and home food environments. Structured interviews with SNAP participants and stakeholders have provided deeper exploration of these quantitative findings. An online DFNL survey has been developed and pilot-tested that aligns with the IMB framework. We have developed an online community food access map in collaboration with geographers and community stakeholders. Mixed-method approaches assess and refine an online survey's ability to assess the level of digital food and nutrition literacy and explain variability in diet quality and self-reported health. The refined survey will serve as a basis for tailoring DFNL messages, developing a DFNL intervention, and coupling with PSE changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]