A Study of Activity Leader to Forest Therapy Campaign in Different Environments Targets on the Participants Which Had Been Infected by SARS-COV-2

Taipei City Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Life Quality; Depression Anxiety Disorder; Post COVID-19 Syndrome; Stress Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Forest healing activities

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06601920

112A040-04 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

TCHIRB-11112011

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the impact of self-guided forest healing activities and guided forest healing activities on the reduction of psychological stress inindividuals diagnosed with the new coronavirus. The main questions aim to answer are:

1. Effectiveness of Forest Healing Activities on Emotional Well-being: Researchers will compare the emotional improvement effects between self-guided and guided forest healing activities to determine their effectiveness.
2. Comparison of Healing Effects in Different Locations: Researchers will compare the effects of forest healing activities conducted in two similar environments, the Taipei Botanical Garden and the Chiayi Arboretum, to assess whether location influences outcomes despite similar altitude and latitude.

Participants who have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus will be recived two hours of guided forest healing activities or self-guided forest healing activities.

Full description

In response to the psychosocial conditions arising from the ongoing pandemic, forest healing offers a corresponding solution. Forest healing activities have shown good adaptability in addressing conditions such as depression and anxiety. A systematic big data analysis paper highlights a significant decrease in depression following forest healing, with a Test overall effect Z=-6.204, as well as a similar significant reduction in anxiety with a Test overall effect Z=-4.183 (Yeon et al., 2021). For urban dwellers, a systematic review of big data on healing activities conducted in forest environments demonstrates significant normalization of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, an increase in the parasympathetic-to-sympathetic nervous system ratio, and a reduction in salivary cortisol concentration, with blood pressure shifting closer to normal indicators and salivary cortisol levels showing a downward trend after activities (Park et al., 2010; Qiu et al., 2022). Among populations exposed to chronic stressors, cortisol levels are higher compared to normal groups (Miller et al., 2007), and elevated salivary amylase activity is also noted compared to control groups (Vineetha et al., 2014). Therefore, forest healing significantly improves conditions like anxiety and depression, as reflected in the reduction of salivary cortisol concentrations.

Enrollment: 161 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and have completed their isolation.
• Participants aged 18 years or older who voluntarily agree to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who do not have the capability and stamina to walk for more than 120 minutes.
• Current smokers, betel nut chewers, or individuals who consume alcohol (more than five standard drinks in any situation).
• Individuals with a history of substance addiction (including both narcotic and non-narcotic drugs).
• Participants currently involved in another clinical trial or undergoing an intervention trial follow-up.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Situations where participants are unable to cooperate (e.g., inability to participate after random assignment or refusal to sign the informed consent form).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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161 participants in 4 patient groups

Guided and then self-guided in Taipei Botanical Garden

Experimental group

Description:

One group will get guided forest healing activities during the first period of the trial, and then self-guided during the second period in Taipei Botanical Garden.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Forest healing activities

Self-guided and then guided in Taipei Botanical Garden

Experimental group

Description:

One group will get "self-guided healing activities" during the first period of the trial, and then "guided forest healing activities" during the second period in Taipei Botanical Garden.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Forest healing activities

Guided and then self-guided in Chiayi Arboretum.

Experimental group

Description:

One group will get "guided forest healing activities" during the first period of the trial, and then "self-guided healing activities" during the second period in Chiayi Arboretum.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Forest healing activities

Self-guided and then guided in Chiayi Arboretum

Experimental group

Description:

One group will get "self-guided healing activities" during the first period of the trial, and then "guided forest healing activities" during the second period in Chiayi Arboretum.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Forest healing activities