TY - JOUR
T1 - A growing opportunity
T2 - Community gardens affiliated with US hospitals and academic health centers
AU - George, Daniel R.
AU - Rovniak, Liza S.
AU - Kraschnewski, Jennifer L.
AU - Hanson, Ryan
AU - Sciamanna, Christopher N.
N1 - Funding Information:
Preparation of this manuscript was funded, in part, by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH , through Grant UL1TR000127 (Sinoway) and KL2TR000126 , awarded to Dr. Kraschnewski. We would like to thank Esther Dell, Associate Librarian, Interlibrary Loan & Reference Services, for her help in conducting library research at Penn State College of Medicine. We report no conflicts of interest. Daniel R. George had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014.
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - Background: Community gardens can reduce public health disparities through promoting physical activity and healthy eating, growing food for underserved populations, and accelerating healing from injury or disease. Despite their potential to contribute to comprehensive patient care, no prior studies have investigated the prevalence of community gardens affiliated with US healthcare institutions, and the demographic characteristics of communities served by these gardens. Methods: In 2013, national community garden databases, scientific abstracts, and public search engines (e.g., Google Scholar) were used to identify gardens. Outcomes included the prevalence of hospital-based community gardens by US regions, and demographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, education, household income, and obesity rates) of communities served by gardens. Results: There were 110 healthcare-based gardens, with 39 in the Midwest, 25 in the South, 24 in the Northeast, and 22 in the West. Compared to US population averages, communities served by healthcare-based gardens had similar demographic characteristics, but significantly lower rates of obesity (27% versus 34%, P<. .001). Conclusions: Healthcare-based gardens are located in regions that are demographically representative of the US population, and are associated with lower rates of obesity in communities they serve.
AB - Background: Community gardens can reduce public health disparities through promoting physical activity and healthy eating, growing food for underserved populations, and accelerating healing from injury or disease. Despite their potential to contribute to comprehensive patient care, no prior studies have investigated the prevalence of community gardens affiliated with US healthcare institutions, and the demographic characteristics of communities served by these gardens. Methods: In 2013, national community garden databases, scientific abstracts, and public search engines (e.g., Google Scholar) were used to identify gardens. Outcomes included the prevalence of hospital-based community gardens by US regions, and demographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, education, household income, and obesity rates) of communities served by gardens. Results: There were 110 healthcare-based gardens, with 39 in the Midwest, 25 in the South, 24 in the Northeast, and 22 in the West. Compared to US population averages, communities served by healthcare-based gardens had similar demographic characteristics, but significantly lower rates of obesity (27% versus 34%, P<. .001). Conclusions: Healthcare-based gardens are located in regions that are demographically representative of the US population, and are associated with lower rates of obesity in communities they serve.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2014.12.003
DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2014.12.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 25599017
AN - SCOPUS:84922620591
SN - 2211-3355
VL - 2
SP - 35
EP - 39
JO - Preventive Medicine Reports
JF - Preventive Medicine Reports
ER -