BACKGROUND Holistic approaches are sought to improve lifestyle behaviors and health of cancer survivors long term. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to explore whether a home-based vegetable gardening intervention is feasible and whether it improves diet and other health-related outcomes among older cancer survivors. DESIGN We conducted a feasibility trial in which cancer survivors were randomized to receive a year-long gardening intervention immediately or to a wait-list control arm. Home visits at baseline and 1 year assessed physical performance, anthropometric indices, behavioral and psychosocial outcomes, and biomarkers. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Participants included 46 older (aged 60+ years) survivors of locoregionally staged cancers across Alabama from 2014 to 2016. Forty-two completed 1-year follow-up. INTERVENTION Cooperative extension master gardeners delivered guidance to establish three seasonal vegetable gardens at survivors' homes. Plants, seeds, and gardening supplies were provided. OUTCOMES Primary outcomes were feasibility targets of 80% accrual and retention, and an absence of serious adverse events; other outcomes were secondary and explored potential benefits. STATISTICAL ANALYSES Baseline to follow-up changes were assessed within and between arms using paired t, McNemar's, and χ2 tests. RESULTS This trial proved to be safe and demonstrated 91.3% retention; 70% of intervention participants rated their experience as "excellent," and 85% would "do it again." Data suggest significantly increased reassurance of worth (+0.49 vs -0.45) and attenuated increases in waist circumference (+2.30 cm vs +7.96 cm) in the gardening vs control arms (P=0.02). Vegetable and fruit consumption increased by approximately 1 serving/day within the gardening arm from baseline to follow-up (mean [standard error]=1.34 [1.2] to 2.25 [1.9] servings/day; P=0.02)] compared to controls (1.22 [1.1] to 1.12 [0.7]; P=0.77; between-arm P=0.06). CONCLUSIONS The home vegetable gardening intervention among older cancer survivors was feasible and suggested improvements in vegetable and fruit consumption and reassurance of worth; data also suggest attenuated increases in waist circumference. Continued study of vegetable gardening interventions is warranted to improve health, health behaviors, and well-being of older cancer survivors.

中文翻译：

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在老年癌症幸存者中进行的家庭蔬菜园艺干预随机对照试验显示了改善蔬菜和水果消费、价值保证和中心性肥胖轨迹的可行性、满意度和承诺

背景技术寻求整体方法来长期改善癌症幸存者的生活方式行为和健康。目标 我们的目标是探索基于家庭的蔬菜园艺干预是否可行，以及它是否可以改善老年癌症幸存者的饮食和其他健康相关结果。设计 我们进行了一项可行性试验，其中癌症幸存者被随机分配到立即接受为期一年的园艺干预或等待名单控制组。基线和 1 年的家访评估了身体表现、人体测量指标、行为和社会心理结果以及生物标志物。参与者/环境 参与者包括 2014 年至 2016 年阿拉巴马州 46 名年龄较大（60 岁以上）的局部分期癌症幸存者。42 名完成了 1 年的随访。干预 合作推广主园丁提供了在幸存者家中建立三个季节性菜园的指导。提供了植物、种子和园艺用品。结果 主要结果是 80% 应计和保留的可行性目标，并且没有严重的不良事件；其他结果是次要的，探索了潜在的好处。统计分析 使用配对 t、McNemar 和 χ2 检验评估臂内和臂间随访变化的基线。结果 该试验证明是安全的，保留率为 91.3%；70% 的干预参与者将他们的体验评为“优秀”，85% 的人会“再做一次”。数据表明价值保证显着增加（+0.49 vs -0.45），腰围增加减弱（+2.30 cm vs +7. 96 厘米）在园艺与控制臂（P = 0.02）。与对照组相比，园艺组的蔬菜和水果消耗量从基线到随访增加了大约 1 份/天（平均 [标准误差]=1.34 [1.2] 至 2.25 [1.9] 份/天；P=0.02）]（ 1.22 [1.1] 至 1.12 [0.7]；P=0.77；臂间 P=0.06）。结论 老年癌症幸存者的家庭蔬菜园艺干预是可行的，并建议改善蔬菜和水果的消费和价值保证；数据还表明腰围的增加减弱。有必要继续研究蔬菜园艺干预措施，以改善老年癌症幸存者的健康、健康行为和福祉。与对照组相比，园艺组的蔬菜和水果消耗量从基线到随访增加了大约 1 份/天（平均 [标准误差]=1.34 [1.2] 至 2.25 [1.9] 份/天；P=0.02）]（ 1.22 [1.1] 至 1.12 [0.7]；P=0.77；臂间 P=0.06）。结论 老年癌症幸存者的家庭蔬菜园艺干预是可行的，并建议改善蔬菜和水果的消费和价值保证；数据还表明腰围的增加减弱。有必要继续研究蔬菜园艺干预措施，以改善老年癌症幸存者的健康、健康行为和福祉。与对照组相比，园艺组的蔬菜和水果消耗量从基线到随访增加了大约 1 份/天（平均 [标准误差]=1.34 [1.2] 至 2.25 [1.9] 份/天；P=0.02）]（ 1.22 [1.1] 至 1.12 [0.7]；P=0.77；臂间 P=0.06）。结论 老年癌症幸存者的家庭蔬菜园艺干预是可行的，并建议改善蔬菜和水果的消费和价值保证；数据还表明腰围的增加减弱。有必要继续研究蔬菜园艺干预措施，以改善老年癌症幸存者的健康、健康行为和福祉。结论 老年癌症幸存者的家庭蔬菜园艺干预是可行的，并建议改善蔬菜和水果的消费和价值保证；数据还表明腰围的增加减弱。有必要继续研究蔬菜园艺干预措施，以改善老年癌症幸存者的健康、健康行为和福祉。结论 老年癌症幸存者的家庭蔬菜园艺干预是可行的，并建议改善蔬菜和水果的消费和价值保证；数据还表明腰围的增加减弱。有必要继续研究蔬菜园艺干预措施，以改善老年癌症幸存者的健康、健康行为和福祉。