Southwest Harvest for Health: Adapting a mentored vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors in the southwest

Blair, Cindy K.; Harding, Elizabeth; Adsul, Prajakta; Moran, Sara; Guest, Dolores D.; Clough, Kathy; Sussman, Andrew L.; Duff, Dorothy; Cook, Linda S.; Rodman, Joseph; Dayao, Zoneddy; Brown-Glaberman, Ursa; King, Towela V.; Pankratz, V. Shane; Servin, Eduardo; Davis, Sally; Demark‐Wahnefried, Wendy

doi:10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100741

Cited by 7 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 63 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…In addition, ACES reduced the cost of Master Gardener credentialling by 25% and fundraising efforts through UAB have resulted in further scholarships to cancer survivors who have completed the program. As Harvest for Health initially began as a small pilot study, it is understandable that stakeholders may have considered the program transient; however, it has grown over time to a statewide initiative, and is currently being evaluated in the Southwest [ 25 , 26 ]. To facilitate further dissemination to other regions of the country, with the goal of eventually expanding nationwide, a long-term stable funding mechanism will need to be put in place.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability capacity of a vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors

et al. 2022

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Background Health behavior interventions, especially those that promote improved diet and physical activity, are increasingly directed toward cancer survivors given their burgeoning numbers and high risk for comorbidity and functional decline. However, for health behavior interventions to achieve maximal public health impact, sustainability at both the individual and organizational levels is crucial. The current study aimed to assess the individual and organizational sustainability of the Harvest for Health mentored vegetable gardening intervention among cancer survivors. Methods Telephone surveys were conducted among 100 cancer survivors (mean age 63 years; primarily breast cancer) completing one-of-two Harvest for Health feasibility trials. Surveys ascertained whether participants continued gardening, and if so, whether they had expanded their gardens. Additionally, surveys were emailed to 23 stakeholders (Cooperative Extension county agents, cancer support group leaders, and healthcare representatives) who were asked to rate the intervention’s ability to generate sustained service and produce benefits over time using the eight-domain Program Sustainability Assessment Tool (PSAT). Results The survey among cancer survivors (91.9% response rate) indicated that 85.7% continued gardening throughout the 12 months following intervention completion; 47.3% expanded their gardens beyond the space of the original intervention. Moreover, 5.5% of cancer survivors enrolled in the certification program to become Extension Master Gardeners. The survey among stakeholders generated a similar response rate (i.e., 91.3%) and favorable scores. Of the possible maximum of 7 points on the PSAT, the gardening intervention’s “Overall Capacity for Sustainability” scored 5.7 (81.4% of the maximum score), with subscales for “Funding Stability” scoring the lowest though still favorably (5.0) and “Program Evaluation” scoring the highest (6.3). Conclusions Data support the sustainability capacity of the Harvest for Health vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors. Indeed, few interventions have proven as durable in terms of individual sustainability. Furthermore, Harvest for Health’s overall organizational score of 5.7 on the PSAT is considered strong when compared to a previous review of over 250 programs, where the mean overall organizational PSAT score was 4.84. Thus, solutions for long-term funding are currently being explored to support this strong, holistic program that is directed toward this vulnerable and growing population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02150148

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability capacity of a vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors

et al. 2022

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“…A detailed description of the study protocol was published previously [ 27 ]. Briefly, this was a single-arm pilot study whereby all participants received the nine-month mentored vegetable gardening intervention.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A detailed description of the Southwest Harvest for Health intervention has been previously published [ 27 ]. Similar to the original Harvest for Health study developed in Alabama [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 28 ], the current pilot study is a community-based, mutually beneficial partnership between UNM and the New Mexico State University Extension Master Gardener Program [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To achieve widespread implementation, evidence-based interventions need to be adapted to different populations and contexts. We adapted Harvest for Health for the different climate, growing conditions, and population of New Mexico (NM), which was reported previously [ 27 ]. We then pilot tested the adapted intervention, Southwest Harvest for Health, and examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Southwest Harvest for Health: An Adapted Mentored Vegetable Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors

et al. 2021

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Harvest for Health is a home-based vegetable gardening intervention that pairs cancer survivors with Master Gardeners from the Cooperative Extension System. Initially developed and tested in Alabama, the program was adapted for the different climate, growing conditions, and population in New Mexico. This paper chronicles the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of “Southwest Harvest for Health”. During the nine-month single-arm trial, 30 cancer survivor-Master Gardener dyads worked together to establish and maintain three seasonal gardens. Primary outcomes were accrual, retention, and satisfaction. Secondary outcomes were vegetable and fruit (V and F) intake, physical activity, and quality of life. Recruitment was diverse and robust, with 30 survivors of various cancers, aged 50–83, roughly one-third minority, and two-thirds females enrolled in just 60 days. Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, retention to the nine-month study was 100%, 93% reported “good-to-excellent” satisfaction, and 87% “would do it again.” A median increase of 1.2 servings of V and F/day was documented. The adapted home-based vegetable gardening program was feasible, well-received, and resulted in increased V and F consumption among adult cancer survivors. Future studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this program and to inform strategies to increase the successful implementation and further dissemination of this intervention.

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“…Findings suggest that tending a home-based vegetable garden can result in meaningful increases in vegetable intake, PA, and improvements in QOL [ 18 , 20 ], especially physical function. We adapted the intervention to suit the different climate and growing conditions in New Mexico [ 21 , 22 ]. The Southwest Harvest for Health feasibility study was launched in February 2020, concurrent with the emergence of COVID-19 in the United States.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Quality of Life and Physical Functioning in a Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors

et al. 2022

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Purpose: To examine potential factors associated with maintaining or improving self-reported physical function (PF) among older cancer survivors participating in a gardening intervention impacted by the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Thirty cancer survivors completed a home-based gardening intervention to encourage a healthier diet and a more active lifestyle. Device-based measures of physical activity (PA) and surveys to evaluate quality of life (QOL; PROMIS-57 questionnaire) were administered at baseline, mid-intervention (6 months), and post-intervention (9 months). Results: Depression, fatigue, and sleeplessness at baseline were significantly associated with worse average PF scores across follow-up (2.3 to 4.9 points lower for every decrease of 5 points in the QOL score; p-values < 0.02). Worsening of these QOL domains during the intervention was also associated with an additional decrease of 2.1 to 2.9 points in PF over follow-up (p values < 0.01). Better social participation and PA at baseline were significantly associated with better average PF scores during the intervention (2.8 to 5.2 points higher for every 5-point increase in social participation or 30 min more of PA; p values < 0.05). Every 5-point increase in pain at baseline, or increases in pain during the intervention, was associated with decreases of 4.9 and 3.0 points, respectively, in PF. Conclusions: Worse QOL scores before and during the intervention were significantly associated with worse PF over follow-up. Encouraging social participation and PA through interventions such as home-based gardening may improve long-term health among older cancer survivors.

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Southwest Harvest for Health: Adapting a mentored vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors in the southwest

Cited by 7 publications

References 63 publications

Sustainability capacity of a vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors

Sustainability capacity of a vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors

Southwest Harvest for Health: An Adapted Mentored Vegetable Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors

Association between Quality of Life and Physical Functioning in a Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors

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