A nature-based health intervention at a military healthcare center: a randomized, controlled, cross-over study.
Green environment
Mindfulness
Nature-based intervention
Qualitative research
Journal
PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
Titre abrégé: PeerJ
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101603425
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2021
2021
Historique:
received:
29
07
2020
accepted:
17
11
2020
entrez:
28
1
2021
pubmed:
29
1
2021
medline:
29
1
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
We describe a mixed qualitative and quantitative research study in a military facility regarding the role of nature in well-being. Study intervention included two 20-minute walks. One walk was in an intentionally designed woodland environment (Green Road) and the other was on a busy campus road in a medical treatment facility (Urban Road). Twelve volunteers from a military facility participated in both walks in a cross-over experimental design. The two walking sessions were randomly ordered and preceded by pre-walk instructions appropriate to each road's characteristics and incorporated focused attention and present moment orientation. A semi-structured post-walk interview, the primary outcome, was conducted after the conclusion of each walk. Qualitative data analyses consisted of sentiments and themes by using NVivo 12 software. The Green Road was unanimously rated as positive (100%). Responses to Urban Road were evenly distributed among positive (33.3%), negative (33.3%), and neutral/mixed (33.3%) sentiments. The Green Road yielded predominantly positive themes such as enjoyment of nature, relaxation, and feelings of privacy and safety. Urban Road produced significantly more negative themes such as concerns for safety, dislike of noise and other noxious experiences. Quantitative assessment of distress and mindfulness with Distress Thermometer (DT) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale-state version (MAAS) demonstrated that a walk on the Green Road significantly decreased distress and increased mindfulness compared to a walk on the Urban Road. We also observed that pre-walk instructions could direct attention to both obvious and subtle elements of experience and enhance awareness. Results support the notion that an intentional nature-based environment may produce significantly more positive experiences and result in health-promoting benefits in a military health-care setting compared to an urban environment. Future studies with clinical populations could advance our understanding of the healing value of nature-based interventions. The impact of intentional green environments may be enhanced by well-designed instructions for both recreational and therapeutic use.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33505785
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10519
pii: 10519
pmc: PMC7789867
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e10519Informations de copyright
©2021 Ameli et al.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Perry Skeath is employed by the Human Performance Partners Corp.
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