Nature Walks or Exercise as a Group Activity, the Effect Well-being, Sleep and Activity.

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

79 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-03-01

Study Completion Date

2020-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Contact with nature promotes human wellbeing through diverse pathways, providing a potential way to support health especially in primary care, where patients commonly suffer from multimorbidity and poor general health. Social prescribing as a non-pharmaceutical treatment is a promising method to improve health as well as inclusion. This study explores and compares the effects of a nature based and an exercise based social prescribing scheme on mental wellbeing, physical activity and sleep, in a primary care population.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Promoting Active Therapy: Path to Wellness

NCT06858189

Depression, Anxiety Physical Activity Time in Nature +2 more

RECRUITING PHASE2

Effects of Environmental Opportunities and Barriers on Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health in Hispanic Children in Wisconsin

NCT01180972

Obesity, Diabetes, Nutrition, Physical Health

COMPLETED

The Get Outside Study

NCT04685681

Covid19 Risk Reduction Stress +1 more

COMPLETED NA

Biological and Behavioral Outcomes of Community Nature Walks

NCT06056375

Stress, Psychological Telomere Shortening Stress Reaction

RECRUITING PHASE1

Walking Green: The Effects of Walking in Forested and Urban Areas

NCT03950661

Mood Stress Anxiety +4 more

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

In this non-randomized, intention-to-treat, pilot study we recruited clients at the health and social service centre in Sipoo, Finland.

Participants (n=79) chose between two social prescribing programs, either taking part of guided walks in nature, including immersion in a forest with high biodiversity, or taking part in a sports group with a versatile program. Inclusion was not based on diagnosis, but an identified need of improving health. Mental wellbeing was assessed using the 14-item Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), additional questions evaluated perceived health and sleep. Amount and quality of sleep and physical activity were measured using wrist-worn accelerometers.

Assessments took place before and after the 8-week intervention, as we were interested in the effect on everyday life. Even though participants lived in an area with abundant green space, taking part in the prescribed nature program improved mental wellbeing. Those who initially rated their health and mental health as good did achieve benefit from both programs, while those in poor health received better aid from the nature group.

Initial study plan aimed for 160 participants, with an equal distribution between the groups. The programs were completed in 2018-2019 (spring + autumn) The COVID-19 outbreak hindered group activities 2020, a nature-group was organized in autumn 2020.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Health Promotion Multimorbidity

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a controlled pilot study on parallel groups in a real life, intention-to-treat setting.

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Care provider recommended participation in either group, based on discussion with participant. All data is anonymized and stored at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and outcomes assessor has access to this data, however, it includes knowledge of group participation.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Nature-group

Primary care patients identified to be in the target group for health promoting activity by health or social service professionals. Participants chose to take part in the 8 week nature-group, meeting weekly in outdoor areas.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Nature based facilitated group intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Nature-group programme included learning more about local outdoor areas and nature itself, the biotopes visited were chosen to provide a various nature experience, including forests, farmland, lakes, and seashore. Accompanied by nature guides the group practiced simple sensorial exercises that enhance the contact with nature and its microbiome.

Sports-group

Primary care patients identified to be in the target group for health promoting activity by health or social service professionals. Participants chose to take part in the 8 week sports-group, meeting weekly in community sports facilities.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exercise in group

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Sports-group participated in an exercise programme and met weekly in community sports facilities. Exercise we define as a planned, structured, repetitive, and purposeful form of physical activity that aims for improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness. The sports programme was planned and executed by professional sports leaders in cooperation with health professionals and included both aerobic and anaerobic exercise as well as team sports, content was planned according to current best practice and considered the participants physical ability.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Nature based facilitated group intervention

The Nature-group programme included learning more about local outdoor areas and nature itself, the biotopes visited were chosen to provide a various nature experience, including forests, farmland, lakes, and seashore. Accompanied by nature guides the group practiced simple sensorial exercises that enhance the contact with nature and its microbiome.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exercise in group

The Sports-group participated in an exercise programme and met weekly in community sports facilities. Exercise we define as a planned, structured, repetitive, and purposeful form of physical activity that aims for improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness. The sports programme was planned and executed by professional sports leaders in cooperation with health professionals and included both aerobic and anaerobic exercise as well as team sports, content was planned according to current best practice and considered the participants physical ability.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Need of health promotion or secondary prevention of disease as identified by health care professionals or by social care professionals working in a public health care center (nurse, doctor, or social worker).
* Enrolment was not based on a diagnosis, but health care and social care professionals were instructed to identify patients/clients they felt could benefit from a targeted health intervention and involve particularly those in poor general health.
* Adults with a physical ability to slowly walk approximately 3 km in a slow tempo.
* Ability to understand and give consent to participation.
* Age 18 years or older.

Exclusion Criteria

* Untreated medical condition hindering physical activity or symptomatic condition demanding continuous attention.
* Disability preventing ability to move in terrain.
* Inability to take part in group-based activities due to, e.g., behavioral challenges.

Although reason of referral is not reported, enrolment in intervention was part of real-life treatment.

Eligibility was assessed by professionals referring to the intervention, as well as at the introductory meeting organized by the staff at the public health care center taking place before the intervention started.

It was possible to take part in the intervention but not the study, participants in the study signed an informed consent allowing use of data and giving permission for later contact. Participants were free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this did not interfere with their care in any way.

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No