IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i21p14505-d963816.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the Impact of a Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) Intervention on Physician/Healthcare Professional Burnout: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Author

Listed:
  • John Kavanaugh

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Hospital, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA)

  • Mark E. Hardison

    (Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Heidi Honegger Rogers

    (College of Nursing, University of New Mexico College of Nursing, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Crystal White

    (Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Jessica Gross

    (Clinical and Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

Abstract

Professional healthcare worker burnout is a crisis in the United States healthcare system. This crisis can be viewed at any level, from the national to local communities, but ultimately, must be understood at the level of the individual who is caring for patients. Thus, interventions to reduce burnout symptoms must prioritize the mental health of these individuals by alleviating some of the symptoms of depression, grief, and anxiety that accompany burnout. The practice of Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) is a specific evidence-based practice which research has shown can improve an individual’s mental health and, when performed in a group, can support a sense of social connection. We investigated the impact of a three-hour, guided Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) nature-based intervention on burnout symptoms among physicians and other healthcare workers by using a randomized, controlled trial. The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and Mini-Z assessments were used to collect baseline burnout scores and participants were randomized into the intervention group, which completed the assessment again after the Shinrin-Yoku walk, or into a control group, which completed the assessments again after a day off from any clinical duties. A total of 34 participants were enrolled in the intervention group and a total of 22 participants were enrolled in the control group. Ultimately, no statistically significant differences were detected between the pre-test and post-test scores for the intervention group or between the post-test scores of the intervention group compared to the control group. However, the subjective responses collected from participants after participating in the Shinrin-Yoku walk overwhelmingly reported decreased feelings of stress and increased mental wellbeing. This raises important questions about the difference between symptoms of burnout and other aspects of mental health, as well as the limitations of a one-time nature-based intervention on levels of chronic burnout symptoms. Thus, further research on the effects of engaging healthcare providers in an ongoing practice of Shinrin-Yoku is warranted.

Suggested Citation

  • John Kavanaugh & Mark E. Hardison & Heidi Honegger Rogers & Crystal White & Jessica Gross, 2022. "Assessing the Impact of a Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) Intervention on Physician/Healthcare Professional Burnout: A Randomized, Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14505-:d:963816
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14505/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14505/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul B. Tchounwou, 2004. "Environmental Research and Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-2, April.
    2. Hugo Rodrigues & Ricardo Cobucci & Antônio Oliveira & João Victor Cabral & Leany Medeiros & Karen Gurgel & Tházio Souza & Ana Katherine Gonçalves, 2018. "Burnout syndrome among medical residents: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Margaret M. Hansen & Reo Jones & Kirsten Tocchini, 2017. "Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-48, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniela Huber & Johanna Freidl & Christina Pichler & Michael Bischof & Martin Kiem & Renate Weisböck-Erdheim & Gabriella Squarra & Vincenzo De Nigris & Stefan Resnyak & Marcel Neberich & Susanna Bordi, 2023. "Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Hao-Ting Chang & Chih-Da Wu & Wen-Chi Pan & Shih-Chun Candice Lung & Huey-Jen Su, 2019. "Association Between Surrounding Greenness and Schizophrenia: A Taiwanese Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Tamsin Thomas & James Baker & Debbie Massey & Daniel D’Appio & Christina Aggar, 2020. "Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Trial of Social Prescribing of Forest Therapy for Quality of Life and Biopsychosocial Wellbeing in Community-Living Australian Adults with Mental Illness: Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Andrew W. Bailey & Hyoung-Kil Kang, 2022. "Walking and Sitting Outdoors: Which Is Better for Cognitive Performance and Mental States?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.
    5. 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.
    6. Ka-Yin Yau & Pui-Sze Law & Chung-Ngok Wong, 2022. "Cardiac and Mental Benefits of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diet plus Forest Bathing (FB) versus MIND Diet among Older Chinese Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    7. Isabelle Soulé & Chloé Littzen-Brown & Amber L. Vermeesch & Layla Garrigues, 2022. "Expanding the Mind–Body–Environment Connection to Enhance the Development of Cultural Humility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-8, October.
    8. Elisa Menardo & Donatella Di Marco & Sara Ramos & Margherita Brondino & Alicia Arenas & Patricia Costa & Carlos Vaz de Carvalho & Margherita Pasini, 2022. "Nature and Mindfulness to Cope with Work-Related Stress: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-16, May.
    9. María Dolores Ruiz‐Fernández & Juan Diego Ramos‐Pichardo & Olivia Ibáñez‐Masero & José Cabrera‐Troya & María Inés Carmona‐Rega & Ángela María Ortega‐Galán, 2020. "Compassion fatigue, burnout, compassion satisfaction and perceived stress in healthcare professionals during the COVID‐19 health crisis in Spain," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(21-22), pages 4321-4330, November.
    10. Juan Luis Delgado-Gallegos & Rene de Jesús Montemayor-Garza & Gerardo R. Padilla-Rivas & Héctor Franco-Villareal & Jose Francisco Islas, 2020. "Prevalence of Stress in Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northeast Mexico: A Remote, Fast Survey Evaluation, Using an Adapted COVID-19 Stress Scales," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-12, October.
    11. Amy Miner Ross & Reo Jane Francesca Jones, 2022. "Simulated Forest Immersion Therapy: Methods Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    12. Miek C. Jong & Trine Stub & Eric Mulder & Mats Jong, 2022. "The Development and Acceptability of a Wilderness Programme to Support the Health and Well-Being of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: The WAYA Programme," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, September.
    13. 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.
    14. Alexandra Jiricka-Pürrer & Valeria Tadini & Boris Salak & Karolina Taczanowska & Andrzej Tucki & Giulio Senes, 2019. "Do Protected Areas Contribute to Health and Well-Being? A Cross-Cultural Comparison," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, April.
    15. 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.
    16. Valentina Alfonsi & Serena Scarpelli & Maurizio Gorgoni & Alessandro Couyoumdjian & Francesco Rosiello & Cinzia Sandroni & Roberto Corsi & Filomena Pietrantonio & Luigi De Gennaro, 2023. "Healthcare Workers after Two Years of COVID-19: The Consequences of the Pandemic on Psychological Health and Sleep among Nurses and Physicians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-15, January.
    17. Emi Morita & Hiroshi Kadotani & Naoto Yamada & Tae Sasakabe & Sayo Kawai & Mariko Naito & Takashi Tamura & Kenji Wakai, 2024. "The Inverse Association between the Frequency of Forest Walking (Shinrin-yoku) and the Prevalence of Insomnia Symptoms in the General Japanese Population: A Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Coh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-13, March.
    18. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation with Forest Imagery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, January.
    19. Karolina Macháčková & Roman Dudík & Jiří Zelený & Dana Kolářová & Zbyněk Vinš & Marcel Riedl, 2021. "Forest Manners Exchange: Forest as a Place to Remedy Risky Behaviour of Adolescents: Mixed Methods Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-20, May.
    20. Minhang Liu & Xiuhan Zhao & Zongyu Liu, 2022. "Relationship between Psychological Distress, Basic Psychological Needs, Anxiety, Mental Pressure, and Athletic Burnout of Chinese College Football Athletes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14505-:d:963816. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.