The Wildman Programme. A Nature-Based Rehabilitation Programme Enhancing Quality of Life for Men on Long-Term Sick Leave: Study Protocol for a Matched Controlled Study In Denmark

Abstract

Many men have poor mental health and need help to recover. However, designing a rehabilitation intervention that appeals to men is challenging. This study protocol aims to describe the 'Wildman Programme', which will be a nature-based rehabilitation programme for men on long-term sick leave due to health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, post-cancer and chronic cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, or diabetes type II. The programme will be a nature-based rehabilitation initiative combining nature experiences, attention training, body awareness training, and supporting community spirit. The aim of the study will be to examine whether the 'Wildman Programme' can help to increase quality of life and reduce stress among men with health problems compared to treatment as usual. The study will be a matched control study where an intervention group (number of respondents, N = 52) participating in a 12-week nature-based intervention will be compared to a control group (N = 52) receiving treatment as usual. Outcomes are measured at baseline (T1), post-treatment (T2), and at follow up 6 months post-intervention (T3). The results of this study will be important to state whether the method in the 'Wildman Programme' can be implemented as a rehabilitation offer in the Danish Healthcare System to help men with different health problems.

Keywords

nature-based intervention; men; stress; quality of life; chronic illness; mental health; nature-body-mind-community (NBMC); biophilia; supportive environment theory (SET)

Published in

International journal of environmental research and public health
2020, volume: 17, number: 10, article number: 3368

SLU Authors

• Grahn, Patrik

  • Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Nature experiences and health

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being

UKÄ Subject classification

Applied Psychology
Occupational Therapy
Landscape Architecture

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103368

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105724