Occupational Therapy and Horticulture for Cancer Survivors With Chronic Pain

NCT03951922 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 5180419
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 9
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to explore the impact of a therapeutic horticulture program as an occupation-based intervention to address chronic pain symptoms for cancer survivors. The main objectives are to assess participants' perceptions of pain, physical and psychosocial wellness, stress management, and quality of life at pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up. Quantitative and qualitative data will be synthesized and analyzed to explore this phenomenon.

Conditions

Cancer Survivor; Chronic Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Salivary Cortisol Test

  Participant stress level will be determined by salivary cortisol levels. Participant's salivary cortisol level will be measured at awakening, 30 minutes following awakening and bedtime. Typically, there is Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), which is a steep rise in cortisol output during the first 30 minutes following awakening, followed by a steady decline across the morning, afternoon, and evening hours, with the daily nadir typically occurring around midnight. Flattened diurnal cortisol slope relates to increased emotional and psychosocial stress and related to worse health outcomes. The typical Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) is defined as an increase of at least 2.5 nmol/l from the cortisol level taken at awakening. Although there are no agreed norms for the absolute concentrations of free cortisol in saliva it typically ranges between 4.7-18.5 nmol/l for post-awakening, between 8.6-21.9 nmol/l for 30 minutes post-awakening, and 0.3-15.2 nmol/l for bedtime.

  Change between baseline and three months

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Lower body strength

  Change between baseline and three months

• Upper body strength

  Change between baseline and three months

• Endurance

  Change between baseline and three months

• Lower body flexibility

  Change between baseline and three months

• Upper body flexibility

  Change between baseline and three months

Study Arms (1)

Therapeutic Horticulture Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The therapeutic horticulture group will participate in a 6-week horticulture program meeting twice a week for an hour led by an occupational therapist incorporating plant-based activities and education on pain management techniques at a community farm.

Behavioral: Horticultural activity

Interventions

Horticultural activity BEHAVIORAL

Therapeutic horticulture activities are plant-related activities that include but not limited to digging, watering, planting, weeding, trimming, fertilizing, mulching, harvesting, learning about organic farming, and exploring options to incorporate horticulture into daily activities

Therapeutic Horticulture Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• years of age
• History of cancer diagnosis
• Chronic pain longer than 3 months
• Have interest in therapeutic horticulture and exercise
• Able to participate in a moderate physical activity in sitting and/or standing for at least one hour twice a week
• Able to provide own transportation to the horticulture site or the supervised exercise program
• Able to comprehend, speak and write in English

You may not qualify if:

• Uncontrolled seizure disorder
• Pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Loma Linda University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, California, 92350, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Julie Kugel, OTD

  Loma Linda University Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Program director of Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2019
• First Posted: May 16, 2019
• Study Start: June 8, 2019
• Primary Completion: November 23, 2019
• Study Completion: February 10, 2020
• Last Updated: March 13, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)