Nature-based interventions in institutional and organisational settings: a scoping review. Issue 3 (4th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moeller, Chris; King, Nigel; Burr, Viv; Gibbs, Graham R.; Gomersall, Tim
• Is Part Of: International journal of environmental health research. Volume 28:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 293
• Page End: 305
• Publication Date: 2018-05-04
• Subjects: Animal-assisted therapy -- horticulture therapy -- scoping review -- nature -- health; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 363.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2018.1468425
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-3123

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this review was to scope the literature on nature-based interventions that could be conducted in institutional settings where people reside full-time for care or rehabilitation purposes. Systematic searches were conducted across CINAHL, Medline, Criminal Justice Abstracts, PsycINFO, Scopus, Social Care Online and Cochrane CENTRAL. A total of 85 studies (reported in 86 articles) were included. Four intervention modalities were identified: Gardening/therapeutic horticulture; animal-assisted therapies; care farming and virtual reality-based simulations of natural environments. The interventions were conducted across a range of settings, including inpatient wards, care homes, prisons and women's shelters. Generally, favourable impacts were seen across intervention types, although the reported effects varied widely. There is a growing body of literature on nature-based interventions that could be applied to a variety of institutional settings. Within most intervention types, there is sufficient research data available to perform full systematic reviews. Recommendations for future systematic reviews are offered.