Health Behaviors and Perceptions of Cancer Survivors Harvesting at an Urban Garden

Abstract

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.

The role of nature in cancer patients' lives: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis

“…The studies described a spectrum of nature experiences including views to nature from within the hospital [11], contact with therapeutically designed and natural landscapes [28, 54], domestic gardening and structured gardening programs [40, 41, 43, 45, 46], retreats in natural environments [55], dragon-boating [44], and outdoor adventure programs [13]. The initial coding process provided a broad sense of the material and explicated salient concepts.…”

“…The initial coding process provided a broad sense of the material and explicated salient concepts. It was notable that individual researchers deployed different interpretative language when dealing with similar ideas and concepts, for example: experiences alluding to relaxation in nature were reported by English and colleagues as, ‘nature appears to inspire feelings of calmness’ [54]; while Unruh and colleagues reported, ‘Worried minds were eased by thinking about the garden’ [46]; and yet another study expressed the concept of relaxation as, ‘providing reprieve from the everyday stresses’ [45]. Consequently, this meta-synthesis prioritised primary data (participants’ own words) where available in order to start from, and remain close to, original formulations during the coding process.…”

“…Gardens in care settings represented ‘somewhere to sit and laugh without disturbing others’ and a place for ‘playing, eating and being together’ [28]. One study found that the hospital garden promoted a ‘sense of belonging, support, and community’, where patients could ‘give and gain support’, ‘thrive in relaxed and unscripted conversation’ and engage in ‘social networking’ [45]. Ray and colleagues described how breast cancer survivors gained social support when connecting during a season of dragon-boating: ‘such a challenge provided them strength, promoted togetherness and offered support in facing their own fear of recurrence’ [44].…”

Feasibility, Preliminary Efficacy, and Lessons Learned from a Garden-Based Lifestyle Intervention for Cancer Survivors

“…27–29 After completion of baseline clinical, anthropometric, and dietary assessments, study participants were involved in a multifaceted intervention focusing on cancer survivor–specific nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral modifications delivered within a garden setting. The 4-month intervention components included 13,14,22,23,30 : Harvesting produce (fruit, vegetables, herbs) ≥ 3 times/week at an urban garden aligned with a comprehensive cancer center supported by the National Institutes of HealthBiweekly group education classes structured around evidence-based cancer survivor guidelinesAccess to remote motivational interviewing coaching by a trained registered dietitian nutritionistAccess to a secure online web portal to provide lifestyle behavior recommendations and survivor-specific health and wellness tips, recipes, and other resources…”

“…These trained volunteers were accessible to participants and provided safe food-handling tips, recipe suggestions, nutrition education, harvesting assistance, and additional motivation and support. 30 …”