Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security in Montana to Build a Food System Responsive to Public Health Crises
Introduction: The purpose of this survey is to better understand how COVID-19 (the coronavirus disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has impacted Montanans' health, particularly as it relates to food security. Food security is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as having consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. We are interested in how the food you access and consume has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began (early March 2020 in Montana), along with other related factors that might impact what and how much you eat, such as physical activity and stress.
Timeline of COVID-19 in Montana: Although COVID-19 was first detected in Asia in late 2019, the first reported case in Montana appeared at the beginning of March 2020. On March 12, 2020, Governor Steve Bullock issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency within the state of Montana related to COVID-19, and on March 28, 2020, he issued a two-week, stay-at-home directive to help slow the spread of the virus, which was extended until April 26, 2020. Since April 26, Montana has been following a phased reopening under the guidance of Governor Bullock.
Survey Participation: Thank you for considering your participation in this survey. If you are an adult (at least 18 years of age), currently residing in Montana, you are eligible for this survey. If you complete this survey, it will be entered into a research study. Participation in this study is voluntary and anonymous. Your name and contact information will not be linked with your responses. You can choose to not answer any questions you do not want to answer and/or you can stop at any time. We will protect the information that you provide by not attaching your name to your responses and safely storing this information. The provided information will be combined with responses from other individuals.
Your participation is valuable. After you complete the survey, you will be eligible to win a $200 VISA gift card. You may contact our research team at cbykershanks@montana.edu if you have any questions about this research. You may also contact a representative at Montana State University with any questions about your involvement in this study. The contact for this is Dr. Mark Quinn, Chair of the Institutional Review Board, (406) 994-4707; email: mquinn@montana.edu.