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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0JAMA Network Open

Food Insecurity Among Resident Physicians and Clinical Fellows at a Large Academic Medical Center

  • Erin Mahan1
  • Atalay Demiray2
  • Stephen J. Huot3,4,5
  • June Criscione4,5
  • Marietta Vazquez6,7,8
8 affiliations
  1. 1Physician Assistant Program, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut
  2. 2Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
  3. 3Graduate Medical Education, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
  4. 4Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
  5. 5Yale New Haven Health System, New Haven, Connecticut
  6. 6Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
  7. 7Yale Institute for Global Health, New Haven, Connecticut
  8. 8Office of Collaborative Excellence and Student Engagement, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Abstract

Importance: Food insecurity is associated with adverse health and affects approximately 1 in 5 US medical students. A recent multi-institutional study found food insecurity in 14% of graduate medical education trainees using a 2-item screen; prevalence by the 10-item US Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security Survey Module remains poorly characterized.

Objective: To estimate reported food insecurity prevalence among resident physicians and clinical fellows and identify affected subgroups and barriers.

Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cross-sectional, anonymous electronic survey at the Yale New Haven Health System, all physicians in accredited postgraduate training were eligible (approximately 600). The survey was fielded August 7, 2023, to May 19, 2026, and responses arrived through November 2025 (121 of 165 [73%] in 2023).

Exposures: Year of training (including postgraduate year 1 [PGY-1] status) and self-reported barriers to obtaining food.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Food insecurity, a score of 3 or higher on the 10-item US Department of Agriculture module; prevalences and associations reported with 95% CIs.

Results: Of approximately 600 eligible trainees, 165 (28%) participated; 164 had complete food security data (53 PGY-1, 34 PGY-2, 23 PGY-3, 32 PGY-4, 22 other, including fellows). Overall, 50 of 164 respondents (30.5%; 95% CI, 24.0%-37.9%) met criteria for food insecurity. PGY-1 prevalence (24 of 53 [45.3%]) was approximately twice that of later years (26 of 111 [23.4%]; odds ratio [OR], 2.71; 95% CI, 1.35-5.43; P = .004). Lack of money was associated with food insecurity (45 of 60 [75.0%] vs 4 of 100 [4.0%]; OR, 72.00; 95% CI, 22.61-229.30; P < .001), whereas lack of time was not (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.61-2.49; P = .55). PGY-1 trainees more often endorsed lack of money (27 of 52 [51.9%] vs 33 or 108 [30.6%]; OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.24-4.85; P = .009). Prevalence by specialty ranged from 5 of 26 (19.2%) to 5 of 10 (50.0%) ( P = .24).

Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study of 164 resident physicians and clinical fellows, approximately one-third of respondents reported food insecurity, with the highest burden among PGY-1 trainees, whose recall window spanned the transition from medical school into residency, and an association with lack of money. Financial supports targeted to that transition warrant prospective evaluation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{mahan2026food,
  title = {{Food Insecurity Among Resident Physicians and Clinical Fellows at a Large Academic Medical Center}},
  author = {Erin Mahan and Atalay Demiray and Stephen J. Huot and June Criscione and Marietta Vazquez},
  journal = {JAMA Network Open},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.40774},
  url = {https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2855824},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Food Insecurity Among Resident Physicians and Clinical Fellows at a Large Academic Medical Center
AU  - Erin Mahan
AU  - Atalay Demiray
AU  - Stephen J. Huot
AU  - June Criscione
AU  - Marietta Vazquez
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - JAMA Network Open
DO  - 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.40774
UR  - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2855824
AB  - Importance: Food insecurity is associated with adverse health and affects approximately 1 in 5 US medical students. A recent multi-institutional study found food insecurity in 14% of graduate medical education trainees using a 2-item screen; prevalence by the 10-item US Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security Survey Module remains poorly characterized.  Objective: To estimate reported food insecurity prevalence among resident physicians and clinical fellows and identify affected subgroups and barriers.  Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cross-sectional, anonymous electronic survey at the Yale New Haven Health System, all physicians in accredited postgraduate training were eligible (approximately 600). The survey was fielded August 7, 2023, to May 19, 2026, and responses arrived through November 2025 (121 of 165 [73%] in 2023).  Exposures: Year of training (including postgraduate year 1 [PGY-1] status) and self-reported barriers to obtaining food.  Main Outcomes and Measures: Food insecurity, a score of 3 or higher on the 10-item US Department of Agriculture module; prevalences and associations reported with 95% CIs.  Results: Of approximately 600 eligible trainees, 165 (28%) participated; 164 had complete food security data (53 PGY-1, 34 PGY-2, 23 PGY-3, 32 PGY-4, 22 other, including fellows). Overall, 50 of 164 respondents (30.5%; 95% CI, 24.0%-37.9%) met criteria for food insecurity. PGY-1 prevalence (24 of 53 [45.3%]) was approximately twice that of later years (26 of 111 [23.4%]; odds ratio [OR], 2.71; 95% CI, 1.35-5.43; P = .004). Lack of money was associated with food insecurity (45 of 60 [75.0%] vs 4 of 100 [4.0%]; OR, 72.00; 95% CI, 22.61-229.30; P < .001), whereas lack of time was not (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.61-2.49; P = .55). PGY-1 trainees more often endorsed lack of money (27 of 52 [51.9%] vs 33 or 108 [30.6%]; OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.24-4.85; P = .009). Prevalence by specialty ranged from 5 of 26 (19.2%) to 5 of 10 (50.0%) ( P = .24).  Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study of 164 resident physicians and clinical fellows, approximately one-third of respondents reported food insecurity, with the highest burden among PGY-1 trainees, whose recall window spanned the transition from medical school into residency, and an association with lack of money. Financial supports targeted to that transition warrant prospective evaluation.
SN  - 2574-3805
ER  -