Harvest for health gardening intervention feasibility study in cancer survivors

Abstract

Background. Cancer survivors are at increased risk for second malignancies, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and functional decline. Evidence suggests that a healthful diet and physical activity may reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve health in this population. Methods. We conducted a feasibility study to evaluate a vegetable gardening intervention that paired 12 adult and child cancer survivors with Master Gardeners to explore effects on fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, quality-of-life, and physical function. Throughout the year-long study period, the survivor-Master Gardener dyads worked together to plan/plant three gardens, harvest/rotate plantings, and troubleshoot/correct problems. Data on diet, physical activity, and quality-of-life were collected via surveys; anthropometrics and physical function were objectively measured. Acceptability of the intervention was assessed with a structured debriefing survey. Results. The gardening intervention was feasible (robust enrollment; minimal attrition) and well-received by cancer survivors and Master Gardeners. Improvement in three of four objective measures of strength, agility, and endurance was observed in 90% of survivors, with the following change scores [median (interquartile range)] noted between baseline and one-year follow-up: hand grip test [+ 4.8 (3.0, 6.7) kg], 2.44 meter Get-Up-and-Go [+ 1.0 (+ 1.8, + 0.2) seconds], 30-second chair stand [+ 3.0 (+ 1.0, 5.0) stands], and six-minute walk [+ 11.6 (6.1, 48.8) meters]. Increases of ≥ 1 fruit and vegetable serving/day and ≥ 30 minutes/week of physical activity were observed in 40% and 60%, respectively. Conclusion. These preliminary results support the feasibility and acceptability of a mentored gardening intervention and suggest that it may offer a novel and promising strategy to improve fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and physical function in cancer survivors. A larger randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm our results.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the cancer survivors and the parents of the child cancer survivors for their participation. We also thank the Master Gardeners who graciously gave of their time and expertise: Lathia Banks, Meg Barnum, Jeanne Bearden, Mary Beth Burner, Myra Crawford, Harold Deason, Jan Holliday, Hope Long, Karen Mitchell, Virginia Murdoch, Bethany O’Rear, LeAnne Porter, and Leonora Roberson. In addition, we thank Jamie Culpepper of Bonnie Plants, Inc. for donating bedding plants, and Kim Creel of WINGSCAPES for donating a Plant Cam to this project. We also are grateful to John Decker of the Backyard Pantry and Molly Philbin of EarthBox^® for the discounts provided on raised beds and Earthboxes^® which helped to make this project possible.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R25 CA047888, 5R25 CA76023, 5UL1 RR025777, and UL1TR000165) and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.