Quality of LifeG4H-CSNCT07565896
Gardening for Health for Cancer Survivors
A study testing Gardening and Nutrition Intervention in people with Quality of Life and Lifestyle Intervention, run by University of Vermont Medical Center.
Trial summary
This study is testing whether a gardening and nutrition program can improve well-being in people who have had cancer. Many cancer survivors continue to experience challenges after treatment, including changes in appetite, nutrition, stress, and quality of life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Quality of Life, Lifestyle Intervention
- What is being tested?
- Gardening and Nutrition Intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jul 2028to Jul 2042
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older
- Self-reported current or prior diagnosis of cancer
- Self-identifies as a cancer survivor
- Ability to read, write, and speak English
Who cannot join
- Currently significantly immunosuppressed
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Gardening for Health for Cancer Survivors (G4H-CS)
This study is testing whether a gardening and nutrition program can improve well-being in people who have had cancer. Many cancer survivors continue to experience challenges after treatment, including changes in appetite, nutrition, stress, and quality of life. Programs that combine healthy eating, physical activity, and social connection may help address these issues.
In this study, participants will take part in a 6-week, in-person program called Gardening for Health. The program includes weekly group sessions held at a garden at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Each session lasts about two hours and includes hands-on gardening activities, nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and guided wellness practices such as mindfulness and light movement. Participants will also receive educational materials to support healthy eating and gardening at home.
Read more
The main goal of the study is to determine whether this program is feasible and acceptable for cancer survivors, meaning whether people are willing to participate, attend sessions, and find the program helpful and satisfying. The study will also explore whether participation is associated with improvements in quality of life, stress, sense of belonging, and nutrition-related behaviours.
Participants will complete questionnaires before starting the program and again after the 6-week program ends. These surveys will ask about overall health, stress levels, social connection, and lifestyle habits.
The researchers hypothesize that participation in the Gardening for Health program will be feasible and well-received by cancer survivors, and that it may lead to improvements in quality of life, reduced stress, and increased feelings of connection and well-being.
This is a single-group study, all participants receive the intervention and there is no comparison group. The results will help determine whether this type of program should be studied further in larger trials.
Read the detailed description
This is a prospective, single-center, single-arm feasibility study designed to evaluate a structured gardening and nutrition-based intervention, among adult cancer survivors. The study will enroll approximately 15 participants at the University of Vermont Cancer Center.
Cancer survivors frequently experience persistent challenges following treatment, including nutritional deficits, altered taste and appetite, reduced physical activity, psychosocial stress, and decreased quality of life. Prior research has demonstrated that multi-component lifestyle interventions, may improve dietary intake, physical functioning, and psychosocial outcomes. Building on this evidence and prior pilot work conducted at the University of Vermont Medical Center, this study evaluates an adapted, short-duration gardening and nutrition intervention tailored specifically for cancer survivors.
The intervention consists of six weekly, in-person sessions delivered over approximately six weeks in a rooftop garden setting. Each session is approximately two hours in duration and is led by a multidisciplinary team. The intervention integrates hands-on gardening activities, nutrition education, culinary instruction, and experiential components such as mindfulness, light physical activity, and nature-based engagement.
The primary objective is to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, assessed through recruitment, retention, attendance, and participant satisfaction. Secondary objectives include assessing pre- to post-intervention changes in psychosocial outcomes, including health-related quality of life, perceived stress, and sense of belonging, as well as exploratory changes in nutrition-related knowledge and behaviors.
Participants will complete self-report assessments at baseline (prior to intervention initiation) and immediately following completion of the intervention. Qualitative feedback collected through post-intervention surveys will be analyzed to characterize participant experience and perceived impact.
This study is not powered to detect statistically significant differences in outcomes but is intended to generate preliminary data on feasibility, acceptability, and potential signals of efficacy to inform the design of future controlled trials.
- Conditions
- Quality of Life, Lifestyle Intervention
- Being tested
- Gardening and Nutrition Intervention
- Keywords
- Cancer Survivors, Gardening Therapy, Horticultural Therapy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Gardening and Nutrition InterventionBehavioural
The intervention is a structured, six-week, in-person gardening and nutrition-based program delivered at the University of Vermont Medical Center rooftop garden. Participants will attend one session per week, each approximately two hours in duration, for a total of six sessions. The program is led by a multidisciplinary team.
Each session integrates hands-on gardening activities (e.g., planting, garden maintenance, harvesting), nutrition education (e.g., dietary fiber, hydration, anti-inflammatory foods), and culinary instruction focused on preparing healthy meals. The program also incorporates experiential components such as mindfulness practices, light physical activity, and engagement with natural outdoor environments.
Participants will receive educational materials, including a gardening and nutrition curriculum packet, to support continued application of skills outside of the sessions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Gardening and Nutrition Intervention for Cancer Survivors | Experimental | Participants will receive a six-week, in-person gardening and nutrition-based intervention delivered at the University of Vermont Medical Center rooftop garden. The program consists of six weekly sessions, each approximately two hours in duration, led by a multidisciplinary team. Participants will also receive educational materials to support gardening and healthy eating. Outcomes will be assessed using self-report questionnaires administered at baseline prior to the intervention and immediately following completion of the program. Receives: Behavioral: Gardening and Nutrition Intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Acceptability of the Gardening and Nutrition Intervention
Acceptability will be assessed using a post-intervention participant satisfaction survey. Measures will include participant-reported satisfaction with the program, perceived usefulness of the intervention components, and willingness to recommend the program to others. Responses will be summarized descriptively to evaluate overall participant satisfaction and perceived value of the intervention.
Responses will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree).
Measured: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Recruitment Rate
Recruitment rate will be defined as the number of participants enrolled divided by the number of eligible participants who expressed interest in the study during the recruitment period.
Unit of Measure: Percentage (%) Time Frame: During study enrollment period (up to 6 weeks)
Measured: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Retention Rate
Retention rate will be defined as the proportion of enrolled participants who complete the full intervention and post-intervention assessments (T2).
Unit of Measure: Percentage (%)
Measured: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Session Attendance
Session attendance will be defined as the number of intervention sessions attended by each participant out of 6 total sessions. Attendance will be summarized as both the mean number of sessions attended and the proportion of sessions attended.
Unit of Measure: Number of sessions (0-6) and Percentage (%)
Measured: During the 6-week intervention period
Assessment Completion Rate
Assessment completion will be defined as the proportion of participants who complete all required baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T2) questionnaires.
Unit of Measure: Percentage (%)
Measured: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36)
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The SF-36 evaluates eight domains, including physical functioning, role limitations, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, energy, and general health. Scores will be calculated according to standard scoring procedures, and changes from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
Each domain score is transformed to a 0 to 100 scale, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life.
The outcome will be defined as the change in SF-36 domain scores from baseline (T1) to post-intervention (T2).
Measured: Baseline to 6 weeks
Change in Perceived Stress (Perceived Stress Scale)
Perceived stress will be assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The PSS measures the degree to which situations in one's life are perceived as stressful over the past month. The PSS includes 10 items rated on a Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), with total scores ranging from 0 to 40. Total scores will be calculated, and changes from baseline to post-intervention will be evaluated. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stress (worse outcome).
The outcome will be defined as the change in total PSS score from baseline (T1) to post-intervention (T2).
Measured: Baseline to 6 weeks
Change in Sense of Belonging (General Belongingness Scale)
Sense of belonging will be assessed using the General Belongingness Scale (GBS), which measures feelings of social inclusion and rejection. The GBS consists of 12 items rated on a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with total scores ranging from 12 to 84. Total and subscale scores will be calculated, and changes from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
Higher scores indicate greater sense of belonging (better outcome).
Measured: Baseline to 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 May 2026
- Study startJul 2028 (estimated)
- Primary completionJul 2042 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2042 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Quality of LifeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Vermont Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Randall F Holcombe, University of Vermont Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07565896
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00004151/UVMCC2602
- Acronym
- G4H-CS
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 4 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Gardening for Health for Cancer Survivors (G4H-CS)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07565896
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- G4H-CS / STUDY00004151/UVMCC2602
- Conditions
- Quality of Life, Lifestyle Intervention
- Keywords
- Cancer Survivors, Gardening Therapy, Horticultural Therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Vermont Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2042 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2042 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is testing whether a gardening and nutrition program can improve well-being in people who have had cancer. Many cancer survivors continue to experience challenges after treatment, including changes in appetite, nutrition, stress, and quality of life. Programs that combine healthy eating, physical activity, and social connection may help address these issues.
In this study, participants will take part in a 6-week, in-person program called Gardening for Health. The program includes weekly group sessions held at a garden at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Each session lasts about two hours and includes hands-on gardening activities, nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and guided wellness practices such as mindfulness and light movement. Participants will also receive educational materials to support healthy eating and gardening at home.
The main goal of the study is to determine whether this program is feasible and acceptable for cancer survivors, meaning whether people are willing to participate, attend sessions, and find the program helpful and satisfying. The study will also explore whether participation is associated with improvements in quality of life, stress, sense of belonging, and nutrition-related behaviours.
Participants will complete questionnaires before starting the program and again after the 6-week program ends. These surveys will ask about overall health, stress levels, social connection, and lifestyle habits.
The researchers hypothesize that participation in the Gardening for Health program will be feasible and well-received by cancer survivors, and that it may lead to improvements in quality of life, reduced stress, and increased feelings of connection and well-being.
This is a single-group study, all participants receive the intervention and there is no comparison group. The results will help determine whether this type of program should be studied further in larger trials.
Detailed description
This is a prospective, single-center, single-arm feasibility study designed to evaluate a structured gardening and nutrition-based intervention, among adult cancer survivors. The study will enroll approximately 15 participants at the University of Vermont Cancer Center.
Cancer survivors frequently experience persistent challenges following treatment, including nutritional deficits, altered taste and appetite, reduced physical activity, psychosocial stress, and decreased quality of life. Prior research has demonstrated that multi-component lifestyle interventions, may improve dietary intake, physical functioning, and psychosocial outcomes. Building on this evidence and prior pilot work conducted at the University of Vermont Medical Center, this study evaluates an adapted, short-duration gardening and nutrition intervention tailored specifically for cancer survivors.
The intervention consists of six weekly, in-person sessions delivered over approximately six weeks in a rooftop garden setting. Each session is approximately two hours in duration and is led by a multidisciplinary team. The intervention integrates hands-on gardening activities, nutrition education, culinary instruction, and experiential components such as mindfulness, light physical activity, and nature-based engagement.
The primary objective is to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, assessed through recruitment, retention, attendance, and participant satisfaction. Secondary objectives include assessing pre- to post-intervention changes in psychosocial outcomes, including health-related quality of life, perceived stress, and sense of belonging, as well as exploratory changes in nutrition-related knowledge and behaviors.
Participants will complete self-report assessments at baseline (prior to intervention initiation) and immediately following completion of the intervention. Qualitative feedback collected through post-intervention surveys will be analyzed to characterize participant experience and perceived impact.
This study is not powered to detect statistically significant differences in outcomes but is intended to generate preliminary data on feasibility, acceptability, and potential signals of efficacy to inform the design of future controlled trials.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Gardening and Nutrition Intervention for Cancer Survivors | Experimental | Behavioral: Gardening and Nutrition InterventionParticipants will receive a six-week, in-person gardening and nutrition-based intervention delivered at the University of Vermont Medical Center rooftop garden. The program consists of six weekly sessions, each approximately two hours in duration, led by a multidisciplinary team. Participants will also receive educational materials to support gardening and healthy eating. Outcomes will be assessed using self-report questionnaires administered at baseline prior to the intervention and immediately following completion of the program. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 18 years or older
- Self-reported current or prior diagnosis of cancer
- Self-identifies as a cancer survivor
- Ability to read, write, and speak English
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Currently significantly immunosuppressed
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Gardening and Nutrition InterventionThe intervention is a structured, six-week, in-person gardening and nutrition-based program delivered at the University of Vermont Medical Center rooftop garden. Participants will attend one session per week, each approximately two hours in duration, for a total of six sessions. The program is led by a multidisciplinary team. Each session integrates hands-on gardening activities (e.g., planting, garden maintenance, harvesting), nutrition education (e.g., dietary fiber, hydration, anti-inflammatory foods), and culinary instruction focused on preparing healthy meals. The program also incorporates experiential components such as mindfulness practices, light physical activity, and engagement with natural outdoor environments. Participants will receive educational materials, including a gardening and nutrition curriculum packet, to support continued application of skills outside of the sessions. | Behavioural | Gardening and Nutrition Intervention for Cancer Survivors |
Primary outcome
Acceptability of the Gardening and Nutrition Intervention
Time frame: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Acceptability will be assessed using a post-intervention participant satisfaction survey. Measures will include participant-reported satisfaction with the program, perceived usefulness of the intervention components, and willingness to recommend the program to others. Responses will be summarized descriptively to evaluate overall participant satisfaction and perceived value of the intervention. Responses will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree).
Recruitment Rate
Time frame: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Recruitment rate will be defined as the number of participants enrolled divided by the number of eligible participants who expressed interest in the study during the recruitment period. Unit of Measure: Percentage (%) Time Frame: During study enrollment period (up to 6 weeks)
Retention Rate
Time frame: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Retention rate will be defined as the proportion of enrolled participants who complete the full intervention and post-intervention assessments (T2). Unit of Measure: Percentage (%)
Session Attendance
Time frame: During the 6-week intervention period
Session attendance will be defined as the number of intervention sessions attended by each participant out of 6 total sessions. Attendance will be summarized as both the mean number of sessions attended and the proportion of sessions attended. Unit of Measure: Number of sessions (0-6) and Percentage (%)
Assessment Completion Rate
Time frame: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Assessment completion will be defined as the proportion of participants who complete all required baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T2) questionnaires. Unit of Measure: Percentage (%)
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36)
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
Change in Perceived Stress (Perceived Stress Scale)
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
Change in Sense of Belonging (General Belongingness Scale)
Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Gardening and Nutrition Intervention in people with Quality of Life and Lifestyle Intervention, run by University of Vermont Medical Center.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Randall F Holcombe, MD (1 (802) 656-2021, Randall.holcombe@med.uvm.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Acceptability of the Gardening and Nutrition Intervention (time frame: At 6 weeks (post-intervention)). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 May 2026.