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An Exploratory Study on the Effects of Forest Therapy on Sleep Quality in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers

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  • Hyeyun Kim

    (Department of Neurology, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea)

  • Yong Won Lee

    (Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea
    College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea)

  • Hyo Jin Ju

    (College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea)

  • Bong Jin Jang

    (Graduate School of Healthcare Convergence, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea)

  • Yeong In Kim

    (Department of Neurology, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 1600-8291, Korea)

Abstract

The improvement of sleep quality in patients with cancer has a positive therapeutic effect on them. However, there are no specific treatment guidelines for treating sleep disturbance in cancer patients. We investigated the effect of forest therapy on the quality of sleep in patients with cancer. This study was conducted on nine patients (one male, eight female; mean age, 53.6 ± 5.8 years) with gastrointestinal tract cancer. All patients participated in forest therapy for six days. They underwent polysomnography (PSG) and answered questionnaires on sleep apnea (STOP BANG), subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), sleepiness (Stanford and Epworth Sleepiness Scales), and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) to evaluate the quality of sleep before and after forest therapy. Sleep efficiency from the PSG results was shown to have increased from 79.6 ± 6.8% before forest therapy to 88.8 ± 4.9% after forest therapy ( p = 0.027) in those patients, and total sleep time was also increased, from 367.2 ± 33.4 min to 398 ± 33.8 min ( p = 0.020). There was no significant difference in the STOP BANG score, PSQI scores, daytime sleepiness based on the results of the Stanford and Epworth Sleepiness Scales, and depression and anxiety scores. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that forest therapy may be helpful in improving sleep quality in patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyeyun Kim & Yong Won Lee & Hyo Jin Ju & Bong Jin Jang & Yeong In Kim, 2019. "An Exploratory Study on the Effects of Forest Therapy on Sleep Quality in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-7, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2449-:d:247058
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Juyoung Lee & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Psychological Benefits of Walking through Forest Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Insook Lee & Heeseung Choi & Kyung-Sook Bang & Sungjae Kim & MinKyung Song & Buhyun Lee, 2017. "Effects of Forest Therapy on Depressive Symptoms among Adults: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Jin-Woo Han & Han Choi & Yo-Han Jeon & Chong-Hyeon Yoon & Jong-Min Woo & Won Kim, 2016. "The Effects of Forest Therapy on Coping with Chronic Widespread Pain: Physiological and Psychological Differences between Participants in a Forest Therapy Program and a Control Group," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-13, February.
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    8. Su Geun Im & Han Choi & Yo-Han Jeon & Min-Kyu Song & Won Kim & Jong-Min Woo, 2016. "Comparison of Effect of Two-Hour Exposure to Forest and Urban Environments on Cytokine, Anti-Oxidant, and Stress Levels in Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-11, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eun Young Park & Min Kyung Song & Mi Young An, 2023. "Experiences of Forest Healing Instructors Who Met Cancer Patients in Forest Healing Programs: FGI Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Erica R. Timko Olson & Anthony A. Olson & Megan Driscoll & Amber L. Vermeesch, 2023. "Nature-Based Interventions and Exposure among Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Xiaobo Wang & Yaxing Shi & Bo Zhang & Yencheng Chiang, 2019. "The Influence of Forest Resting Environments on Stress Using Virtual Reality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Francesco Meneguzzo & Lorenzo Albanese & Michele Antonelli & Rita Baraldi & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Francesco Centritto & Davide Donelli & Franco Finelli & Fabio Firenzuoli & Giovanni Margheritin, 2021. "Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Chin Moi Chow, 2020. "Sleep and Wellbeing, Now and in the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-4, April.
    6. Hyeyun Kim & Jayoung Kim & Hyo Jin Ju & Bong Jin Jang & Tae Kyu Wang & Yeong In Kim, 2020. "Effect of Forest Therapy for Menopausal Women with Insomnia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-8, September.
    7. Jaewoo Kang & Jeongho Choi & Kyoungmin Lee, 2024. "Development of an Evaluation Index for Forest Therapy Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-19, January.
    8. Ji-Eun Baek & Jin-Hwa Jung & Ho-Jin Shin & Sung-Hyeon Kim & Si-Yoon Sung & Su-Jin Park & Suk-Chan Hahm & Hwi-Young Cho & Min-Goo Lee, 2022. "Effects of Forest Healing Anti-Aging Program on Psychological, Physiological, and Physical Health of Older People with Mild Cognitive Impairment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Kwang-Hi Park, 2022. "Analysis of Urban Forest Healing Program Expected Values, Needs, and Preferred Components in Urban Forest Visitors with Diseases: A Pilot Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Yunsoo Kim & Yoonhee Choi & Hyeyun Kim, 2022. "Positive Effects on Emotional Stress and Sleep Quality of Forest Healing Program for Exhausted Medical Workers during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, March.

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    Keywords

    forest therapy; cancer; sleep;
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