Quantitative Evaluation of Produce Prescription Programs in the United States: A Scoping Review

This scoping review documented the quantitative measures used to evaluate produce prescription programs (PRxs) — programs that provide fruits and vegetables to individuals with or at risk for chronic disease who also experience food insecurity. Following established scoping review guidelines, the authors searched five databases and additional web sources, ultimately including 91 sources. The most frequently measured constructs were demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, program process, dietary intake, health indicators, food and financial security, and self-efficacy and knowledge. Less commonly measured were healthcare utilization, community and food environment, and program implementor outcomes. The findings reveal that while a wide variety of quantitative measures have been applied to PRx evaluations across the US, there is a clear need for standardization to better capture the full impact of these programs on individuals, households, implementors, and the broader community.