Digital Culinary Medicine for Cancer

Overseen By Maria Vazquez

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Non-English/Spanish speakers, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

80 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Digital Culinary Medicine Program for cancer?

Research on culinary medicine, which combines cooking and nutrition science, shows it can help manage chronic diseases by promoting healthier eating habits. Programs have led to better health outcomes, like improved weight management and reduced risk factors for heart disease, suggesting potential benefits for cancer patients as well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Digital Culinary Medicine safe for humans?

Culinary medicine programs, which include teaching kitchens and hands-on cooking, are generally considered safe and well-received. They focus on teaching healthy cooking and eating habits, and there is no evidence suggesting any safety concerns for participants. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

How is the Digital Culinary Medicine treatment for cancer different from other treatments?

Digital Culinary Medicine is unique because it combines cooking and nutrition education with medical care to help patients manage their health through diet. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on medication or surgery, this approach empowers patients to improve their well-being by learning to prepare healthy, plant-based meals, potentially reducing the impact of diet-related diseases. ^{1 2 3 4 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to develop and test the feasibility of a theory-driven digital culinary medicine program among food insecure cancer survivors referred from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Oncology Clinic at LBJ to the LBJ Food Farmacy program.

Research Team

Margaret Raber, DRPH

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for cancer survivors who are experiencing food insecurity and are being treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Oncology Clinic at LBJ. Participants will be referred to the LBJ Food Farmacy program.

Inclusion Criteria

Receive referral to the LBJ Food Farmacy

I finished my cancer treatment less than 5 years ago.

Willing to complete study assessments

Exclusion Criteria

Unwilling or unable to complete study assessments

I am under 18 years old.

I cannot speak or read English or Spanish.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a digital culinary medicine program aimed at improving diet quality and food security

6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention, including assessment of diet quality, food security, and cardiometabolic health indicators

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Digital Culinary Medicine Program

Trial Overview The study aims to develop and assess a digital culinary medicine program designed for cancer survivors. It's focused on understanding how feasible this type of intervention is when integrated into a clinic-based Food Farmacy setting.

Participant Groups

Group I: Usual Care Waitlist Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be assessed for study eligibility and randomized to study

Group II: Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be assessed for study eligibility and randomized to study

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

Findings from Research

Culinary medicine programs, which include teaching kitchens and gardens, have shown promising preliminary outcomes in improving health metrics like weight and cardiometabolic risk factors in pediatric patients dealing with obesity.

Participation in culinary medicine workshops has increased healthcare employees' confidence and knowledge in preparing whole plant-based meals, suggesting that such programs can enhance healthy lifestyle behaviors both in patients and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Teaching Kitchens and Culinary Gardens as Integral Components of Healthcare Facilities Providing Whole Person Care: A Commentary. Fals, AM., Brennan, AM.[2023]

The Culinary Medicine Curriculum (CMC) is the first comprehensive, open-source guide designed to help health professionals teach culinary medicine, emphasizing a whole food, plant-based diet that is healthy, delicious, and accessible.

In just two months after its release, the CMC was downloaded 2,379 times across 83 countries, indicating a strong global demand for resources that support culinary medicine education and dietary behavior change in patient care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The First, Comprehensive, Open-Source Culinary Medicine Curriculum for Health Professional Training Programs: A Global Reach. Hauser, ME., Nordgren, JR., Adam, M., et al.[2021]

Culinary medicine (CM) and culinary nutrition (CN) education can effectively enhance culinary skills and nutrition knowledge among health professionals and students, as evidenced by 33 studies reviewed.

There is a need for more research to determine the best ways to implement CM/CN programs and to evaluate their impact on the dietary habits of patients and clients influenced by these trained professionals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culinary medicine and culinary nutrition education for individuals with the capacity to influence health related behaviour change: A scoping review. Asher, RC., Shrewsbury, VA., Bucher, T., et al.[2022]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Teaching Kitchens and Culinary Gardens as Integral Components of Healthcare Facilities Providing Whole Person Care: A Commentary. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culinary Medicine: Advancing a Framework for Healthier Eating to Improve Chronic Disease Management and Prevention. [2020]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The First, Comprehensive, Open-Source Culinary Medicine Curriculum for Health Professional Training Programs: A Global Reach. [2021]

4. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physician-Chef-Dietitian Partnerships for Evidence-Based Dietary Approaches to Tackling Chronic Disease: The Case for Culinary Medicine in Teaching Kitchens. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culinary Medicine and Nature: Foods That Work Together. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bringing the "Joy of Healthy Eating" to Advanced Medical Students: Utilizing a Remote Learning Platform to Teach Culinary Medicine: Findings from the First Online Course Based on the ACLM's Whole-Food Plant-Based Culinary Medicine Curriculum. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Culinary medicine and culinary nutrition education for individuals with the capacity to influence health related behaviour change: A scoping review. [2022]