Harvest for Health in Older Cancer Survivors
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Cancer, Cancer |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Oncology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 65 - Any |
| Updated: | 1/9/2019 |
| Start Date: | October 2016 |
| End Date: | March 2021 |
| Contact: | Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD |
| Email: | demark@uab.edu |
| Phone: | 205.975.4022 |
Gardening interventions yield a multitude of measurable benefits that are evaluable within
the context of a clinical trial. Harvest for Health forges new inroads in the delivery of
holistic interventions to high risk populations, in this case, older cancer survivors. Since
the intervention banks on an existing organization's infrastructure, it can easily be
disseminated nationwide. The next step is to prove efficacy - an essential step in
contributing to the science in this area, and one which is crucial for future dissemination.
the context of a clinical trial. Harvest for Health forges new inroads in the delivery of
holistic interventions to high risk populations, in this case, older cancer survivors. Since
the intervention banks on an existing organization's infrastructure, it can easily be
disseminated nationwide. The next step is to prove efficacy - an essential step in
contributing to the science in this area, and one which is crucial for future dissemination.
There are roughly 15 million cancer survivors in the US, comprising 4% of the populace. The
number of cancer survivors is skyrocketing due to a confluence of the following factors: 1)
Americans are aging; 2) cancer is an age-related disease (>60% of cancer survivors are age
65+); and 3) improvements in early detection and treatment have resulted in many common
cancers having 5-year cure rates that surpass 90%. Rising numbers of cancer survivors is good
news, but over $130 billion annually is needed to address subjects long-term health and
psychosocial needs.113 Compared to others, cancer survivors are at higher risk for other
cancers, CVD, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Accelerated functional decline also is a major
problem for cancer survivors, especially those who are older. Baker et al. found that
compared to age-matched controls, cancer cases (n=45,494) had significantly lower physical
and social functioning, vitality, mental health, and HRQoL (p<0.001). Results of others are
similar and suggest that cancer survivors face functional decline that threatens subject
ability to live independently, posing a burden to themselves, subject families and the health
care system. Programs exist in land grant universities in all 50 United States. Certified MGs
complete > 100 hrs. of training and community service (CS) and 25 hrs./year of CS to maintain
active status. In surveying 184 MGs in AL, the investigators found that 71% were "extremely
interested" in mentoring a cancer survivor on vegetable gardening for subject CS, and an
extra 26% stated that "they were interested and wanted to learn more." Thus, the project is
of great interest and builds on an extant infrastructure for sustainability. Ultimately, this
intervention could be disseminated to states with 3 growing seasons and adapted to colder
weather in those with 2 growing seasons (36 states where 10.8 million older cancer survivors
reside). The intervention also could be adapted for persons with other chronic diseases in
which physical functioning and lifestyle behaviors are key. Finally, this project is
significant because the intervention has great potential for sustainability since gardening:
(a) involves many activities which prevent burn-out common with other forms of exercise, and
allows participants to pursue PA outdoors which is related to greater enjoyment; (b) provides
a sense of achievement and zest for life that come from nurturing and observing new life and
growth; and (c) imparts natural prompts since plants require regular care (watering) and
attention (harvesting) and serve as continual and dynamic behavioral cues.
number of cancer survivors is skyrocketing due to a confluence of the following factors: 1)
Americans are aging; 2) cancer is an age-related disease (>60% of cancer survivors are age
65+); and 3) improvements in early detection and treatment have resulted in many common
cancers having 5-year cure rates that surpass 90%. Rising numbers of cancer survivors is good
news, but over $130 billion annually is needed to address subjects long-term health and
psychosocial needs.113 Compared to others, cancer survivors are at higher risk for other
cancers, CVD, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Accelerated functional decline also is a major
problem for cancer survivors, especially those who are older. Baker et al. found that
compared to age-matched controls, cancer cases (n=45,494) had significantly lower physical
and social functioning, vitality, mental health, and HRQoL (p<0.001). Results of others are
similar and suggest that cancer survivors face functional decline that threatens subject
ability to live independently, posing a burden to themselves, subject families and the health
care system. Programs exist in land grant universities in all 50 United States. Certified MGs
complete > 100 hrs. of training and community service (CS) and 25 hrs./year of CS to maintain
active status. In surveying 184 MGs in AL, the investigators found that 71% were "extremely
interested" in mentoring a cancer survivor on vegetable gardening for subject CS, and an
extra 26% stated that "they were interested and wanted to learn more." Thus, the project is
of great interest and builds on an extant infrastructure for sustainability. Ultimately, this
intervention could be disseminated to states with 3 growing seasons and adapted to colder
weather in those with 2 growing seasons (36 states where 10.8 million older cancer survivors
reside). The intervention also could be adapted for persons with other chronic diseases in
which physical functioning and lifestyle behaviors are key. Finally, this project is
significant because the intervention has great potential for sustainability since gardening:
(a) involves many activities which prevent burn-out common with other forms of exercise, and
allows participants to pursue PA outdoors which is related to greater enjoyment; (b) provides
a sense of achievement and zest for life that come from nurturing and observing new life and
growth; and (c) imparts natural prompts since plants require regular care (watering) and
attention (harvesting) and serve as continual and dynamic behavioral cues.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Residence in the following counties in Alabama:Autauga, Baldwin, Blount, Calhoun,
Cherokee, Chilton, Coffee, Cullman, Dale, Dekalb, Elmore, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson,
Lauderdale, Lee, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Mobile, Morgan, Montgomery, Pike,
Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker
- Diagnosed with one of the following cancers and completed primary treatment: localized
larynx, gastric cardia, or cervix; localized or regionally-staged bladder, colorectum,
fallopian tube, breast (female only), kidney and renal, melanoma, oral cavity, ovary,
pharynx, prostate, soft tissue sarcoma, thyroid or uterus; or all stages: Hodgkin or
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Leukemia (CML CLL ALL) or testis.
- has at least one physical function limitation as measured by the SF-36 physical
function subscale.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently tends an in-ground vegetable garden year round.
- Currently eats at least 2.5 cups of fruits and vegetable/day
- Currently obtains 150 or more of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week
- Has a medical condition that precludes safe pursuit of gardening, i.e., severe
orthopedic conditions, pending hip/knee replacement (within 6 mo.), paralysis,
dementia, blindness, untreated stage 3 hypertension, or myocardial infarction,
congestive heart failure, or conditions that required oxygen or hospitalization within
6 mo.
- unsuitable residence for gardening, i.e., no running water, inadequate sunshine.
- not able to speak or read English
We found this trial at
1
site
1720 2nd Ave S
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
(205) 934-4011
Phone: 205-975-4022
University of Alabama at Birmingham The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) traces its roots...
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