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

Authors

• Cindy K. Blair, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Elizabeth M. Harding, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Prajakta Adsul, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Sara Moran, Extension Plant Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
• Dolores Guest, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Kathy Clough, Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardener Program, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Andrew L. Sussman, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Dorothy Duff, Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardener Program, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Linda S. Cook, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Joseph Rodman, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Zoneddy Dayao, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Ursa Brown-Glaberman, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Towela V. King, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• V Shane Pankratz, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Eduardo Servin, Extension Plant Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
• Sally M. Davis, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
• Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2021

Abstract

Few diet and physical activity evidence-based interventions have been routinely used in community settings to achieve population health outcomes. Adapting interventions to fit the implementation context is important to achieve the desired results. Harvest for Health is a home-based vegetable gardening intervention that pairs cancer survivors with certified Master Gardeners from the Cooperative Extension Service with the ultimate goal of increasing vegetable consumption and physical activity, and improving physical functioning and health-related quality-of-life. Harvest for Health has potential for widespread dissemination since Master Gardener Programs exist throughout the United States. However, state- and population-specific adaptations may be needed to improve intervention adoption by other Master Gardener Programs. Our primary objective was to adapt this evidence-informed intervention that was initially incepted in Alabama, for the drastically different climate and growing conditions of New Mexico using a recommended adaptation framework. Our secondary objective was to develop a study protocol to support a pilot test of the adapted intervention, Southwest Harvest for Health. The adaptation phase is a critical first step towards widespread dissemination, implementation, and scale-out of an evidence-based intervention. This paper describes the adaptation process and outcomes, and the resulting protocol for the ongoing pilot study that is currently following 30 cancer survivors and their paired Extension Master Gardener mentors.

Publication Title

Contemp Clin Trials Commun

ISSN

2451-8654

Volume

21

First Page

100741

Last Page

100741

DOI

10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100741

Recommended Citation

Blair CK, Harding EM, Adsul P, Moran S, Guest D, Clough K, Sussman AL, Duff D, Cook LS, Rodman J, Dayao Z, Brown-Glaberman U, King TV, Pankratz VS, Servin E, Davis S, Demark-Wahnefried W. Southwest Harvest for Health: Adapting a mentored vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors in the southwest. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2021 Feb 11;21:100741. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100741. PMID: 33659763; PMCID: PMC7896154.