Anxiety, Cancer, Cardiac Disease, Copd, Depression, Diabetes, Stress
Conditions
Keywords
Supportive Environment Theory (SET), Aesthetic Affective Theory (AAT), Attention Restoration Theory (ART), Nature-Body-Mind-Community (NBMC)
Brief summary
The aim of the present study is to examine whether the nature based 'Wild man Programme' can help to increase quality of life among men on sick leave compared to treatment as usual. Additionally, the study examines which natural environments best work as supportive environments in the rehabilitation.
Detailed description
Many men in Denmark have poor mental health and need help to recover. However, designing a rehabilitation intervention appealing to men is challenging. The 'Wild man Programme' is a rehabilitation programme for men on long-term sick leave and with clinical or self-reported stress due to prolonged health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The programme is a nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) initiative combining nature experiences, attention training, body awareness training and supporting community spirit. The aim of the present study is to examine whether the 'Wild man Programme' can help to increase quality of life among men on sick leave compared to treatment as usual. Additionally, the study examines which natural environments best work as supportive environments in the rehabilitation. A matched control study comparing an intervention group (N=38) which receives a nine-week nature-based intervention to a control group (N=38) receiving case management as treatment as usual in the municipalities. Outcomes are measured at baseline (T1), post treatment (T2), and at follow-up 6 months post intervention (T3). The primary outcome is an improvement in quality of life and the secondary outcome is a decrease in stress level. With the 'Wild man Programme' we investigate whether it is a model that can be implemented in the health system in Denmark to help men with different kinds of health problems improve their quality of life and stress levels. The programme can also deliver valuable information for future nature-based rehabilitation for women (Wild woman) and mixed gender groups. The project will also contribute with information on whether the method and the concept can be a valuable tool for health professionals in the health sector.
Interventions
OTHERNature-Body-Mind-Community
The Nature-Body-Mind-Community (NBMC) approach has been developed in a pilot project over 2014-2018. The 'Wild man Programme' consists of the following main elements: 1. Nature environments and nature experiences, 2. Mind relaxation and meditation, 3. Body awareness and 4. Fire talks, storytelling and community spirit.
OTHERTreatment as usual
Treatment as usual consist of the rehabilitation offered by the hospital or municipality for the specific condition e.i. cancer, diabetes, COPD, anxiety, depression and stress
Sponsors
TrygFonden, Denmark
University of Southern Denmark
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Masking description
The municipality of Svendborg has the superior responsibility for the 'Wild man programme'. Participation in the intervention as well as participation in the study is voluntary. All information collected in the study will be treated confidentially, and participation requires a signed consent form.
Intervention model description
The study is a matched control study where the intervention group receives a nine-week nature-based intervention and is compared to a matched control group receiving case management as treatment as usual in the municipalities (see figure 1). All primary and secondary outcomes are measured at baseline (T1), post treatment (T2), and at follow-up 6 months post intervention (T3).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 68 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
The inclusion and
Exclusion criteria
are similar for the two groups. The inclusion criteria are: * male gender * 18 to 68 years of age * clinical or self-reported symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression * clinical diagnosis of cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes or other kinds of chronic diseases * ability to walk approximately three kilometers in nature * ability to understand and speak Danish The
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Level of quality of life - total score | 9 weeks | The primary outcome is self-experienced quality of life. The World Health Organization's brief quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) will be used. The questionnaire examines four domains on a five-point Likert scale: Physical health, mental health, social relationships and health-related environments e.g. instant access to medical care. The global quality of life is based on the participants' scores on the four domains and they range from 0-100, with a high score indicating high quality of life. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Level of quality of life - mental health | 9 weeks | The WHOQOL-BREF will be used. The domain of mental health is measured on a five-point Likert scale with five questions. |
| Level of quality of life - social relationships | 9 weeks | The WHOQOL-BREF will be used. The domain of social relationships is measured on a five-point Likert scale with five questions. |
| Level of quality of life - physical health | 9 weeks | The WHOQOL-BREF will be used. The domain of physical health is measured on a five-point Likert scale with five questions. |
| Level of self-experienced restitution | 9 weeks | Self-experienced restitution. The Perceived Restorativeness Scale-11 (PRS-11) will be used. |
| Level of self perceived stress | 9 weeks | Self perceived stress. The Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) will be used. The scale consists of 14 items measured on a five-point Likert scale. |
| Level of quality of life - health related environments | 9 weeks | The WHOQOL-BREF will be used. The domain of health related environments is measured on a five-point Likert scale with five questions. |
Countries
Denmark
Outcome results
None listed