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

NCT03089177 | Unknown DMC

• 1 other identifier: 16-0644
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 296
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

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

Keywords

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Change in fruit and vegetable intake from baseline at 20 weeks and 52 weeks

  9 24-hour diet recalls will be collected randomly

  Measurements will occur during weeks 1-2 (3 random recalls) and week 20 (3 random recalls) and week 48 (3 random recalls)

• Change in sedentary time from baseline at 20 weeks and 48 weeks

  Accelerometers will be adhered to thigh and collect data for 7 days

  3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)

• Change in fiber Intake from baseline at 20 weeks and 52 weeks

  9 24-hour diet recalls will be collected randomly

  Measurements will occur during weeks 1-2 (3 random recalls) and week 20 (3 random recalls) and week 48 (3 random recalls)

• Change in Healthy Eating Index (HEI) from baseline at 20 weeks and 52 weeks

  9 24-hour diet recalls will be collected randomly

  Measurements will occur during weeks 1-2 (3 random recalls) and week 20 (3 random recalls) and week 48 (3 random recalls)

• Change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from baseline to 20 weeks

  Accelerometers will be adhered to thigh and collect data for 7 days

  3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)

• Change in waist circumference from baseline to 20 weeks and 52 weeks

  Measurement of waist circumference (cm)

  3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)

• Change in weight (kg) from baseline to 20 weeks and 52 weeks

  Objective measurement of weight will be collected

  3 measurements over one year, T1 (week 1), T2 (week 20), T3 (week 52)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• 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)

Study Arms (2)

Community Garden Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants randomized to the Community Garden Intervention Group will receive the garden intervention. Participants will be assigned a plot for one season and will receive a standard package of services and amenities to support participation in the community garden.

Behavioral: Community Garden Intervention

Wait List Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants randomized to the Wait List Control Group will remain on community gardening waiting lists and will not receive the garden intervention.

Interventions

Community Garden Intervention BEHAVIORAL

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.

Community Garden Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Colorado, Boulder: lead
• Michigan State University: collaborator
• Colorado School of Public Health: collaborator
• University of South Carolina: collaborator
• Colorado State University: collaborator
• Denver Urban Gardens: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado, 80303, United States

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Coringrato E, Alaimo K, Leiferman JA, Villalobos A, Buchenau H, Decker E, Fahnestock L, Quist P, Litt JS. A process evaluation of a randomized-controlled trial of community gardening to improve health behaviors and reduce stress and anxiety. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 13;14(1):13620. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63889-w.

  PMID: 38871715 DERIVED

• Alaimo K, Beavers AW, Coringrato E, Lacy K, Ma W, Hurley TG, Hebert JR. Community Gardening Increases Vegetable Intake and Seasonal Eating From Baseline to Harvest: Results from a Mixed Methods Randomized Controlled Trial. Curr Dev Nutr. 2023 Apr 15;7(5):100077. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100077. eCollection 2023 May.

  PMID: 37215644 DERIVED

• Litt JS, Alaimo K, Harrall KK, Hamman RF, Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman JA, Li K, Villalobos A, Coringrato E, Courtney JB, Payton M, Glueck DH. Effects of a community gardening intervention on diet, physical activity, and anthropometry outcomes in the USA (CAPS): an observer-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Planet Health. 2023 Jan;7(1):e23-e32. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00303-5.

  PMID: 36608945 DERIVED

• 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. CAPS on the move: Crafting an approach to recruitment for a randomized controlled trial of community gardening. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2019 Nov 8;16:100482. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100482. eCollection 2019 Dec.

  PMID: 31799473 DERIVED

• Litt JS, Alaimo K, Buchenau M, Villalobos A, Glueck DH, Crume T, Fahnestock L, Hamman RF, Hebert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman J, Li K. Rationale and design for the community activation for prevention study (CAPs): A randomized controlled trial of community gardening. Contemp Clin Trials. 2018 May;68:72-78. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.03.005. Epub 2018 Mar 18.

  PMID: 29563043 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms; Obesity; Sedentary Behavior; Motor Activity; Health Behavior; Chronic Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes

Study Officials

• Jill S Litt, PhD

  University of Colorado, Boulder

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor, Environmental Studies

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 17, 2017
• First Posted: March 24, 2017
• Study Start: January 1, 2017
• Primary Completion: July 30, 2020
• Study Completion: June 30, 2021
• Last Updated: May 7, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)