Adaptation and Study Protocol for Harvest for Health Together Arizona: a Mentored Community Garden Intervention for Survivors of Cancer

Abstract

Background Current health behavior recommendations for skin cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship are the same for survivors of other cancers; they include eating a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and minimizing ultraviolet (U.V.) exposure. Harvest for Health is a home-based mentored gardening intervention for cancer survivors and was successful in Alabama and New Mexico. We adapted Harvest for Health for implementation in Arizona as a community-based intervention and will pilot test for feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness. Methods Harvest for Health Together Arizona (H4H2-AZ) is a six-month single-arm intervention of mentored community-based vegetable gardening. H4H2-AZ will be piloted among 30 skin cancer survivors. Participant cohorts are aligned with the start of growing seasons (e.g., Spring, Monsoon, Fall). Primary outcomes will be feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the intervention. Secondary outcomes are to explore the effects on cancer preventive health behaviors (dietary quality, physical activity, sedentary time, U.V. exposure, and sun protective habits) and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL). Stakeholder-informed adaptations for Arizona included updating intervention materials to be relevant to the arid desert environment, emphasizing the importance of sun safety in cancer survivorship, and shifting from a home-based to a community-based delivery model. Participants were matched to an individual 30 square foot community garden plot and Master Gardener Mentor. Original intervention components retained are: 1) Master Gardeners deliver the intervention providing one-to-one mentorship and 2) gardening materials and supplies provided. Discussion This pilot single-arm intervention will determine feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of an evidence-based adapted mentored community gardening intervention for survivors of skin cancer. If successful, the intervention could be widely implemented throughout existing Master Gardener programs and community garden networks for survivors of other cancers. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05648604. Trial registered on December 13, 2022.