This study aims to assess the effectiveness on an online gardening study for beginner gardeners with the goal of improving diet and physical activity in those with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of an online gardening and nutrition intervention in adults with risk factors for cardiovascular disease using a randomized controlled trial design. During the trial, the intervention condition will learn how to start a garden plot (either at home or in a community garden) and grow fruits and vegetables for personal consumption. We will also provide this group with nutrition education related to the DASH diet and basic cooking skills instruction. The control condition participants will receive no intervention during the study period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
The intervention group will consist of a digitally delivered course designed to teach gardening, cooking and nutrition education to adults with risk factors for CVD. Participants will be invited to participate in 10 Zoom-based gardening and cooking education sessions. Zoom meetings will be facilitated by members of the study team, will present information to participants and will allow participants to ask questions and share their experiences with others. The materials will walk the participant through various aspects of starting and tending a garden.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Acceptability
Participant acceptability of the program based on 80% of intervention participants providing an average rating of the intervention as 4 or higher on the Weiner Acceptability Scale
Time frame: 24 weeks
Demand
Participant demand in terms of 1) ability to recruit 40 participants at baseline and 2) ability to retain at least 70% of participants as measured by number of participants who complete the follow up questionnaires at the 24 week time point
Time frame: Baseline and 24 weeks
Practicality
80% of intervention group participants report completing 16 out of 20 gardening-related study tasks.
Time frame: 24 weeks
Fruit and vegetable intake
Between group differences in servings of fruits and vegetables from baseline to 24 weeks as assessed by the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire 3
Time frame: From baseline to 24 weeks
Physical activity
Between group differences in minutes of self-reported physical activity from baseline to 24 weeks as assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form.
Time frame: From baseline to 24 weeks
Cooking confidence
Between group differences in self-reported cooking confidence score as assessed by the Cooking and Food Skills (Lavelle et al. 2017)
Time frame: From baseline to 24 weeks
Gardening confidence
Between group differences in total gardening confidence score as assessed by a 20 item gardening task questionnaire on confidence to complete gardening tasks using a 10 point Likert scale.
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Time frame: From baseline to 24 weeks
Gardening enjoyment
Between group differences in the total intrinsic motivation score for gardening activity as measured by the Intrinsic Motivations Questionnaire.
Time frame: From baseline to 24 weeks
Social support-Healthy eating
Between group differences the self-reported Social Support for Healthy Eating Questionnaire (Salis et al., 1987).
Time frame: From baseline to 24 weeks
Social support-physical activity
Between group differences in the self-reported Social Support for Physical Activity Questionnaire (Salis et al, 1987)
Time frame: From baseline to 24 weeks