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A Feasibility Study to Determine Whether the Botanical Garden Become a Region of Forest Therapy for Cancer Survivors

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Mental Health Disorder
Cancer
Neoplasms
Depression
Interventions
Behavioral: Forest Therapy
Registration Number
NCT06001723
Lead Sponsor
Taipei City Hospital
Brief Summary

The forest healing system is an important topic of alternative therapy in recent years. To investigates forest therapy's effectiveness in alleviating negative emotions among post-cancer patients. It compares therapy outcomes at Taipei Botanical Garden and Fushan Botanical Garden. Utilizing a pretest-posttest experimental design, a two-hour guided forest healing activity serves as the intervention method. Data collection involves instrumental tests and saliva samples.

Detailed Description

Introduction:

Cancer's global impact persists, ranking among the top three causes of death in Taiwan. Despite improved survival rates after cancer surgery, negative emotions among patients remain a challenge. Post-cancer depression adversely affects treatment outcomes and overall quality of life. Forest therapy, a natural healing approach, has gained attention for its potential to reduce stress, mitigate negative emotions, and enhance well-being.

Objectives:

This study investigates forest therapy's effectiveness in alleviating negative emotions among post-cancer patients. It compares therapy outcomes at Taipei Botanical Garden and Fushan Botanical Garden. Additionally, the study explores the lasting emotional benefits of forest therapy.

Methods:

Utilizing a pretest-posttest experimental design, this study is conducted at the Botanical Garden in Fushan, Taipei. Participants are cancer patients who are six months post-treatment. A two-hour guided forest healing activity serves as the intervention method. Data collection involves instrumental tests and saliva samples. A comparable location adjacent to Taipei Botanical Garden, excluding urban areas, is selected for comparison activities. Portable heart rhythm monitors track data, and saliva samples are analyzed for salivary α-amylase enzyme kinetics and cortisol concentrations. The study employs questionnaires including the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short (POMS2-A short), Beck Depression Inventory-Second edition (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the abbreviated Taiwan version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • Over 20 year-old
  • Cancer patients finished cancer treatments more than 6 months (regardless hormone therapy)
  • Voluntary attendance
Exclusion Criteria
  • People who unable to walk for at least 120 minutes
  • People who still smoking, chewing betel nut or drinking alcohol (over five standard cups in any situation)
  • People who addicted to medicine
  • People who attend another clinical trial at the same time or in the follow-up period of an interventional trial
  • Pregnant women or breast feeding
  • Other conditions that participants unable to cooperate with

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SEQUENTIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Forest TherapyForest TherapyThis is a pretest-posttest designed experiment. A two-hour guided forest healing activity was used as an intervention method. For the purpose of comparison, an urban area adjacent to the Taipei Botanical Garden, specifically the Wanhua district, was selected. This choice ensures the exclusion of extensive green spaces commonly used for walking.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
questionnaire: BDI-II (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of baseline The Beck Depression Inventory II at urban region

questionnaire: WHOQOL-BREF (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (Taiwan version) at Fushan botanical garden

physiological indicator: alpha-amylase activity in salivary (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of alpha-amylase activity in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Taipei botanical garden

physiological indicator: HRV (Heart Rate Variability) (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of HRV by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure heart rate, heart rate variability (related to activities of the autonomic nervous system ANS), irregular heartbeats (IRRHB), and 5-minute continuous pulse wave at Taipei botanical garden

physiological indicator: HRV (Heart Rate Variability) (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of HRV by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure heart rate, heart rate variability (related to activities of the autonomic nervous system ANS), irregular heartbeats (IRRHB), and 5-minute continuous pulse wave at urban region

questionnaire: POMS2-A short (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short at urban region

questionnaire: BAI (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of The Beck Anxiety Inventory at Fushan botanical garden

questionnaire: BDI-II (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of baseline The Beck Depression Inventory II at Taipei botanical garden

questionnaire: WHOQOL-BREF (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (Taiwan version) at urban region

physiological indicator: cortisol concentration in salivary (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of cortisol concentration in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Taipei botanical garden

physiological indicator: cortisol concentration in salivary (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of cortisol concentration in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at urban region

questionnaire: POMS2-A short (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short at Fushan botanical garden

questionnaire: BAI (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of The Beck Anxiety Inventory at Taipei botanical garden

questionnaire: WHOQOL-BREF (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (Taiwan version) at Taipei botanical garden

physiological indicator: alpha-amylase activity in salivary (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of alpha-amylase activity in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Fushan botanical garden

physiological indicator: blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of blood pressures by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) at urban region

questionnaire: POMS2-A short (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short at Taipei botanical garden

questionnaire: BAI (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of The Beck Anxiety Inventory at urban region

physiological indicator: alpha-amylase activity in salivary (urban region)per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of alpha-amylase activity in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at urban region

physiological indicator: cortisol concentration in salivary (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of cortisol concentration in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Fushan botanical garden

physiological indicator: blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of blood pressures by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) at Fushan botanical garden

physiological indicator: blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) (Taipei botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of blood pressures by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) at Taipei botanical garden

questionnaire: BDI-II (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of The Beck Depression Inventory II at Fushan botanical garden

physiological indicator: HRV (Heart Rate Variability) (Fushan botanical garden)per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

Change of HRV by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure heart rate, heart rate variability (related to activities of the autonomic nervous system ANS), irregular heartbeats (IRRHB), and 5-minute continuous pulse wave at Fushan botanical garden

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Taipei city hospital

🇨🇳

Taipei, Taiwan

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