Community Activation for Prevention (CAPs): A Study of Community Gardening

Conditions

Cancer, Chronic Disease, Diet Modification, Health Behavior, Lifestyle, Sedentary, Obesity, Physical Activity

Keywords

Randomized Controlled Trial, Community Gardening, Health Behavior Change, Physical Activity, Diet, Obesity, Cancer Prevention, Neighborhood

Brief summary

The investigators previous studies show that community gardening is associated with reduction of key health behaviors for cancer prevention in diverse populations. Community gardeners eat more fruits and vegetables per day, are more physically active, and are more likely to avoid age-associated increase in body mass index (BMI). The effect is partially explained by the finding that gardeners are more socially involved, and feel more social support than non-gardeners. The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial to determine whether community gardening improves cancer-preventive behaviors among a multi-ethnic, low-income adult population and elucidate the pathways that shape cancer-preventive behaviors. A randomized controlled trial is needed to demonstrate that the observed behavioral differences are due to the effect of gardening as an intervention rather than self-selection by gardeners.

Eva Coringrato, Katherine Alaimo, Jenn A. Leiferman, Angel Villalobos, Hannah Buchenau et al. (9 authors)

Scientific Reports2024-06-133 citations

10.1038/s41598-024-63889-w

Community Gardening Increases Vegetable Intake and Seasonal Eating From Baseline to Harvest: Results from a Mixed Methods Randomized Controlled Trial.

Alaimo K, Beavers AW, Coringrato E, Lacy K, Ma W, Hurley TG, Hébert JR.

2023-04-1512 citations

10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100077

Effects of a community gardening intervention on diet, physical activity, and anthropometry outcomes in the USA (CAPS): an observer-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Litt JS, Alaimo K, Harrall KK, Hamman RF, Hébert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman JA, Li K, Villalobos A, Coringrato E, Courtney JB, Payton M, Glueck DH.

2023-01-0139 citations

10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00303-5

CAPS on the move: Crafting an approach to recruitment for a randomized controlled trial of community gardening.

Villalobos A, Alaimo K, Erickson C, Harrall KK, Glueck DH, Buchenau H, Buchenau M, Coringrato E, Decker E, Fahnestock L, Hamman RF, Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman JA, Li K, Quist P, Litt JS.

2019-11-082 citations

10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100482

Rationale and design for the community activation for prevention study (CAPs): A randomized controlled trial of community gardening.

Litt JS, Alaimo K, Buchenau M, Villalobos A, Glueck DH, Crume T, Fahnestock L, Hamman RF, Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman J, Li K.

2018-03-1812 citations

10.1016/j.cct.2018.03.005

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCommunity Garden Intervention

The investigators will recruit prospective adult gardeners who have not been gardening for the past two years and who are listed on Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) wait lists. Individuals randomized to the garden intervention will receive a standardized garden resource package, which includes the following: 1. A garden plot in a Denver Urban Garden 2. Seeds and plant starts 3. Introductory gardening workshop 4. Social events including garden-specific events and garden mentoring. The Wait List Control group will remain on the community gardening wait lists and will not receive these resources. Duration of the intervention is 1 year.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Able to give informed consent in English or Spanish * Aged 18 or over * Currently on the wait list for a new garden * Not have gardened in the past 2 gardening seasons

Exclusion criteria

* Is not able to complete the study requirements in Spanish or English * Aged 17 or younger * Has gardened in the past 2 gardening seasons

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in weight (kg) from baseline to 20 weeks and 52 weeks	3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)	Objective measurement of weight will be collected
Change in fruit and vegetable intake from baseline at 20 weeks and 52 weeks	Measurements will occur during weeks 1-2 (3 random recalls) and week 20 (3 random recalls) and week 48 (3 random recalls)	9 24-hour diet recalls will be collected randomly
Change in sedentary time from baseline at 20 weeks and 48 weeks	3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)	Accelerometers will be adhered to thigh and collect data for 7 days
Change in fiber Intake from baseline at 20 weeks and 52 weeks	Measurements will occur during weeks 1-2 (3 random recalls) and week 20 (3 random recalls) and week 48 (3 random recalls)	9 24-hour diet recalls will be collected randomly
Change in Healthy Eating Index (HEI) from baseline at 20 weeks and 52 weeks	Measurements will occur during weeks 1-2 (3 random recalls) and week 20 (3 random recalls) and week 48 (3 random recalls)	9 24-hour diet recalls will be collected randomly
Change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from baseline to 20 weeks	3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)	Accelerometers will be adhered to thigh and collect data for 7 days
Change in waist circumference from baseline to 20 weeks and 52 weeks	3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)	Measurement of waist circumference (cm)

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in Perceived Stress from baseline to 20 weeks and 52 weeks	3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)	Validated scale of perceived stress will be completed

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed