Building Individual and Community Resilience Through Nature-based Therapies - Case Study 8 Nature for All

Building Individual and Community Resilience Through Nature-based Therapies - Case Study 8

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to test if digital engagement instructions (a nature guide APP) can enhance the nature connection and provide positive health outcomes for individuals with mobility disabilities.

The study has an active control group, that will have the same nature exposure without the guidance of the APP. 124 participants will be randomized to either the intervention group or the control group.

The intervention consists of two parts:

Intervention day 1: The intervention starts for both the 'intervention group' and the 'control group' in the Hoersholm arboretum, which contain Denmark's largest collection of different trees and shrubs. The intervention group will listen to the 'intervention APP' during a tour with three stops along a trail in the arboretum. The active control group will take the same tour but does not have access to the 'intervention APP'.

4 week intervention: During the following 4 weeks the participants will be encouraged to visit nature for 120 minutes in total per week on their own. The intervention group will still be encouraged to use the APP during the nature visits.

See protocol

Inclusion Criteria:

• Not being able to walk at all or be able to walk short distances (ICF 2017: d4500, walking short distances; walking for less than a kilometer, such as walking around rooms or hallways, within a building or for short distances outside)
• All types of assistive devices, including e.g. scooters, walkers, and canes. Also service dogs and personal carers are included.
• Adults (+18 years)
• All genders
• All educational levels
• All religious affiliations
• All types of marital status
• All types of households
• All types of employment and income

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Do not understand Danish (APP, questionnaires and interviews in Danish)
• Physically not able to use a smartphone with touch screen, by themselves or with the help of a personal carer
• Participating in mindfulness program during intervention (intervention day 1 and 4-week intervention period)
• Cognitive limitations (difficulties in understanding and using information from APP, understanding and responding to questionnaires and interviews.)
• Known drug or alcohol abuse
• Diagnosed epilepsy