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Morrison KT, Jensen KM, Keniston A, McBeth L, Vermeesch AL, O’Connor K“N. Evaluation of a Guided Nature and Forest Therapy Walk for Internal Medical Residents - A Brief Report. GLOBAL ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND HEALTH 2024; 13:27536130241228181. [PMID: 38250708 PMCID: PMC10798121 DOI: 10.1177/27536130241228181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Background Medical residents commonly face compassion fatigue, burnout, anxiety, and depression. Studies of nature-based interventions show improved mental and physical health; few focus on healthcare providers. Objective To explore potential benefits of forest bathing for medical residents' wellbeing. Methods Using the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy's framework, we piloted a forest bathing intervention among medical residents with pre/post-participation surveys assessing perceptions of mindfulness and psychological wellbeing. Responses were analyzed using a Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test for independent samples. Results Fourteen of fifteen participants completed both surveys. We observed significantly improved mindfulness scores and expressions of feeling calm, vital, or creative, as well as a decreased sense of anxiety and depression. Nonsignificant trends towards decreased burnout and irritability were seen. Conclusion This quality improvement pilot demonstrates trends that forest bathing can improve medical residents' psychological wellbeing and mindfulness. Further exploration of this intervention for healthcare providers is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T. Morrison
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kristin M. Jensen
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Keniston
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Lauren McBeth
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Amber L. Vermeesch
- School of Nursing, Advanced Nursing Education Department, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Kerry “Nellie” O’Connor
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Nigg C, Petersen E, MacIntyre T. Natural environments, psychosocial health, and health behaviors in a crisis - A scoping review of the literature in the COVID-19 context. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 88:102009. [PMID: 37065613 PMCID: PMC10082968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak led to major restrictions globally, affecting people's psychosocial health and their health behaviors. Thus, the purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the available research regarding nature and health in the COVID-19 context. Keywords relating to natural environments and COVID-19 were combined to conduct a systematic online search in six major databases. Eligibility criteria were a) published since 2020 with data collected in the COVID-19 context b) peer-reviewed, c) original empirical data collected on human participants, d) investigated the association between natural environments and psychosocial health or health behaviors, and e) English, German, or Scandinavian languages. Out of 9126 articles being screened, we identified 188 relevant articles, representing 187 distinct studies. Most research focused on adults in the general population and was predominantly conducted in the USA, Europe, and China. Overall, the findings indicate that nature may mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on psychological health and physical activity. Through a systematic thematic analysis of the extracted data, three primary themes were identified: 1) type of nature assessed, 2) psychosocial health and health behaviors investigated, and 3) heterogeneity in the nature-health relationship. Research gaps in the COVID-19 context were identified regarding I) nature characteristics that promote psychosocial health and health behaviors, II) investigations of digital and virtual nature, III) psychological constructs relating to mental health promotion, IV) health-promoting behaviors other than physical activity, V) underlying mechanisms regarding heterogeneity in the nature-health relationship based on human, nature, and geographic characteristics, and VI) research focusing on vulnerable groups. Overall, natural environments demonstrate considerable potential in buffering the impact of stressful events on a population level on mental health. However, future research is warranted to fill the mentioned research gaps and to examine the long-term effects of nature exposure during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nigg
- Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 145, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Evi Petersen
- Department of Sports, Physical Education and Outdoor Life, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800, Bø i, Telemark, Norway
- Department of Early Childhood Education, Oslo Metropolitan University, Pilestredet 42, 0167, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tadhg MacIntyre
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Maynooth University, North Campus, W23 F2K8, Maynooth, Ireland
- Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, Maynooth University, North Campus, W23 F2k8, Maynooth, Ireland
- TechPA Research Group, Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
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