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New Advances on Wellness Therapies Using Integrated Health Focusing on Nature

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 10631

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amber Vermeesch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
Interests: wellbeing and wellness; nature-based interventions; health inequities; physical activity; vulnerable populations
Dr. Chloé Littzen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing, University of Portland, Portland, OR 97203, USA
Interests: well-being; integrative health; nursing philosophy; nursing theory; social justice; mixed methods
Dr. Andrew Lafrenz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing, University of Portland, Portland, OR 97203, USA
Interests: nature and physical health and mental wellbeing; mixed use green spaces; development of urban parks and outdoor sports and recreation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are at a critical time in our relationship with Nature: She needs our help to enact protections and policies. We need her aid in reconnecting with our roots. We need to rediscover our innate connection with Nature and her healing powers. This Special Issue will provide new advances in Nature-Based Interventions (NBI) that promote a sustainable and feasible approach to positively affect health and wellbeing. For example, using NBI is an effective intervention to positively affect mental health in a variety of populations and is effective at reducing factors related to stress. NBIs also have positive benefits for individuals engaging in the natural environment, inducing overall good health, increased energy, increased sense of purpose, and decreased sense of stress. Papers addressing wellness interventions and NBIs are invited for this Special Issue, especially those describing new advances in the delivery of NBIs to a variety of populations and settings.

Dr. Amber Vermeesch
Dr. Chloe Littzen
Dr. Andrew Lafrenz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nature-based interventions
  • integrated health
  • wellness interventions
  • nature therapy
  • nature-based experiences
  • forest bathing

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 229 KiB  
Editorial
New Advances on Wellness Therapies Using Integrated Health Focusing on Nature
by Amber L. Vermeesch, Chloe Littzen-Brown and Andrew Lafrenz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10313; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191610313 - 19 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1008
Abstract
The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide you, the reader, with an overview of new advancements in wellness therapies using integrative health focusing on nature [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances on Wellness Therapies Using Integrated Health Focusing on Nature)

Research

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11 pages, 1068 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of a Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) Intervention on Physician/Healthcare Professional Burnout: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
by John Kavanaugh, Mark E. Hardison, Heidi Honegger Rogers, Crystal White and Jessica Gross
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14505; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192114505 - 04 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2552
Abstract
Professional healthcare worker burnout is a crisis in the United States healthcare system. This crisis can be viewed at any level, from the national to local communities, but ultimately, must be understood at the level of the individual who is caring for patients. [...] Read more.
Professional healthcare worker burnout is a crisis in the United States healthcare system. This crisis can be viewed at any level, from the national to local communities, but ultimately, must be understood at the level of the individual who is caring for patients. Thus, interventions to reduce burnout symptoms must prioritize the mental health of these individuals by alleviating some of the symptoms of depression, grief, and anxiety that accompany burnout. The practice of Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) is a specific evidence-based practice which research has shown can improve an individual’s mental health and, when performed in a group, can support a sense of social connection. We investigated the impact of a three-hour, guided Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) nature-based intervention on burnout symptoms among physicians and other healthcare workers by using a randomized, controlled trial. The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and Mini-Z assessments were used to collect baseline burnout scores and participants were randomized into the intervention group, which completed the assessment again after the Shinrin-Yoku walk, or into a control group, which completed the assessments again after a day off from any clinical duties. A total of 34 participants were enrolled in the intervention group and a total of 22 participants were enrolled in the control group. Ultimately, no statistically significant differences were detected between the pre-test and post-test scores for the intervention group or between the post-test scores of the intervention group compared to the control group. However, the subjective responses collected from participants after participating in the Shinrin-Yoku walk overwhelmingly reported decreased feelings of stress and increased mental wellbeing. This raises important questions about the difference between symptoms of burnout and other aspects of mental health, as well as the limitations of a one-time nature-based intervention on levels of chronic burnout symptoms. Thus, further research on the effects of engaging healthcare providers in an ongoing practice of Shinrin-Yoku is warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances on Wellness Therapies Using Integrated Health Focusing on Nature)
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14 pages, 997 KiB  
Article
Designing Multifunctional Urban Green Spaces: An Inclusive Public Health Framework
by Andrew J. Lafrenz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10867; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191710867 - 31 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3343
Abstract
Evidence of the wide range of health benefits associated with the use of urban green space (UGS) continues to grow. Despite this evidence, many UGS designs do not adopt a community-inclusive approach that utilizes evidence-based public health strategies to maximize potential health benefits. [...] Read more.
Evidence of the wide range of health benefits associated with the use of urban green space (UGS) continues to grow. Despite this evidence, many UGS designs do not adopt a community-inclusive approach that utilizes evidence-based public health strategies to maximize potential health benefits. This research focused on testing a multidisciplinary, community-involved public health framework to drive the UGS design process. The aim of this study was to use community feedback and evidence-based public health practices to promote physical health, psychological wellbeing, and social cohesion by creating a multifunctional UGS that enhances nature therapy, natural play, and sports and recreation. Community health assessment data (236 survey responses), community forum and survey feedback (157 survey responses), local urban green space inventory assessment, and environmental assessment and impact data were analyzed to develop a design plan that maximize the greatest potential health benefits for the greatest proportion of the population. Community health data indicated a strong relationship between the availability of places to be physically active in the community and higher ratings of mental (aOR = 1.80) and physical (aOR = 1.49) health. The creation and utilization of the proposed community-inclusive and public health-focused framework resulted in a UGS design that prioritized the needs of the community and provided evidence-informed strategies to improve the health of local residents. This paper provides unique insight into the application of a framework that promotes a more health-focused and functional approach to UGS design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances on Wellness Therapies Using Integrated Health Focusing on Nature)
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Other

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17 pages, 714 KiB  
Study Protocol
Simulated Forest Immersion Therapy: Methods Development
by Amy Miner Ross and Reo Jane Francesca Jones
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5373; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19095373 - 28 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2808
Abstract
Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, may provide relief from chronic and breakthrough pain in patients with axial spondyloarthritis and improve immune function through increasing NK cell numbers and activity and their downstream effectors, perforin and granulysin, after chemo- or radiation therapy in breast and prostate [...] Read more.
Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, may provide relief from chronic and breakthrough pain in patients with axial spondyloarthritis and improve immune function through increasing NK cell numbers and activity and their downstream effectors, perforin and granulysin, after chemo- or radiation therapy in breast and prostate cancer patients. The aim of this paper is to describe the study protocol for a simulated forest immersion therapy using virtual reality and atomized phytoncides, volatile organic compounds found in forested areas designed to effect positive change for these two patient populations. The setting, including the room set up and samples with inclusion/exclusion specific to this type of intervention, is outlined. Measures and calibration procedures pertinent to determining the feasibility of simulated forest immersion therapy are presented and include: ambient and surface room temperatures and relative humidity in real time, ambient ultrafine particulate matter, ambient droplet measurement that coincides with volatile organic compounds, specific phytoncides, and virtual reality and atomization of phytoncide set up. Particular lessons learned while training and setting up the equipment are presented. Simulated forest immersion therapy is possible with attention to detail during this early phase when development of methods, equipment testing, and feasibility in deploying the intervention become operational. The expected outcome of the development of the methods for this study is the creation of a standardized approach to simulating forest therapy in a controlled laboratory space. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances on Wellness Therapies Using Integrated Health Focusing on Nature)
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