Harvest for health gardening intervention feasibility study in cancer survivors
Open accessAbstract
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.
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There were 13 studies that explicated the impact of gardens and gardening on nutritional intake.
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“In high-income countries, gardening interventions have shown promise for specific populations, including cancer survivors, by improving dietary intake and overall well-being [15–17].”
- Authors
- Blair, C. K., Madan-Swain, A., Locher, J. L., Desmond, R. A., de Los Santos, J., Affuso, O., Glover, T., Smith, K., Carley, J., Lipsitz, M., Sharma, A., Krontiras, H., Cantor, A., & Demark-Wahnefried, W.
- Affiliations
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Auburn University System (US)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Acta Oncologica
- Published
- 2013-02-26
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1110-1118
- ISSN
- 0284-186X (ISSN-L)
- 1651-226X
- PMC
- PMC3718632
- OpenAlex
- W2006828557
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 0.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Acta Oncologica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5ul1rr025777-04, UL1TR000165)
- National Institute on Aging (K07AG043588)
- National Cancer Institute (5R25CA76023, R25CA076023, R01CA201362, R25CA047888, P30CA014236)
- National Center for Research Resources (5UL 1RR025777, UL1-RR-025777)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Diverse Educational Innovations Studies
- Keywords
- cancer survivors, vegetable gardening, Master Gardeners, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, physical function, quality of life, intervention feasibility, treatment acceptability, grip strength, cardiorespiratory fitness
- MeSH terms
- Diet, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Neoplasms, Exercise, Survivors, Gardening
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