title: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors: Cindy K
authors: CK
authors: Blair
authors: Avi
authors: A
authors: Madan-Swain
authors: Julie L
authors: JL
authors: Locher
authors: Renee A
authors: RA
authors: Desmond
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: de Los Santos
authors: Olivia
authors: O
authors: Affuso
authors: Tony
authors: T
authors: Glover
authors: Kerry
authors: K
authors: Smith
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Carley
authors: Mindy
authors: M
authors: Lipsitz
authors: Ayushe
authors: A
authors: Sharma
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Krontiras
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Cantor
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Demark-Wahnefried
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D051639:Gardening; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology