Abstract
Purpose
The aimof thisstudywas to analyze healthpromotionprograms utilizing forests by reviewingregional healthcareprogramplansinKorea.
Methods
Weanalyzed 227regional healthcareprogramplansfrom2011 to 2014; seven health promotion programs of the 16 major healthcare programs were prescribed by public health law.
Results
Our analysis revealed that only 35 health promotion programs from 29 sites were utilizing forests. Furthermore, of 21 known categories of health promotion programs, only nine incorporated the use of forests. Atopy-asthma healthcare programs were the most common forest health promotion programs, which also included specializeddiseasemanagement programs(e.g., foratopypreventionandhealing, patientswithmetabolic syndromeor cancer) and specialized mentalhealth management programs(e.g., for addictionor dementiapre-vention). Others included programs on the development of forest roads or industrial development using forest products.
Conclusion
Health programs using forests in Korea are still very limited and primarily comprise atopy-asthmaprevention/management, health behavioral change, and mental healthprograms. Thisstudy provided useful information for developing health policies and forest health promotion programs further in Korea.
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Table 1.
Programs using Forests by Region
Table 2.
Health Promotion Programs using Forests by Topics (N=227)
Table 3.
Disease-specific Programs using Forests
Table 4.
Other Specialized Programs