title: Health behaviors and perceptions of cancer survivors harvesting at an urban garden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gather information about perceptions of personal health behavior change in cancer survivors following participation in an urban gardening program.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study used focus groups of adult cancer survivors with an open-ended question thread format. Data were transcribed and analyzed by identifying, coding, and categorizing primary patterns/themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four overarching themes were identified: (1) greater dietary intake of produce; (2) improved mental and physical health; (3) enhanced sense of community and social support; and (4) challenges to long-term maintenance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceptions of positive behavior changes associated with harvesting at an urban garden targeting cancer survivors may inform future community and health promotion interventions aimed at improving adherence to evidence-based lifestyle behavior guidelines for cancer survivorship.
authors.affiliation: Medical Dietetics & Health Sciences, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA. Colleen.Spees@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Colleen K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Spees
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Medical Dietetics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darragh
authors.affiliation: Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus OH, USA.
authors.forename: Felisha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: Medical Dietetics & Health Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kay N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D051639:Gardening; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population