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Lee, Choi, Bang, Lee, and Kim: An Exploratory Study of Diffusion of Health Promotion Programs using Forests
Original Article

Perspectives in Nursing Science 2014;11(1):30-38.

Published online: 20 April 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16952/pns.2014.11.1.30

An Exploratory Study of Diffusion of Health Promotion Programs using Forests

Insook Lee1, Heeseung Choi2, Kyung-Sook Bang1, Ko-Woon Lee3, Ji-Eun Kim3

1Professor, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

2Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

3Doctoral Student, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Copyright © 2014 The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

In recent years, many attempts have been made to examine the effects of forest therapy on health and todeveloprelatedpolicies.Thisstudyaimedtoexplorethecurrentstatusofhealthpromotionprogramsusingforests providedbypublichealthcentersandtoidentifyprogramdiffusionstrategiesemployedwithindifferentcommunities.

Methods

For this descriptive study, we analyzed the 5th regional public health care programplans and explored theperceptions of health careworkers attachedwith theprogramsusing open-endedquestionnaires and a focus groupinterview.

Results

This study confirmed the necessity for health promotionprograms using forests, as well asadministrativeandeducational demandsforsuchprograms. Thetarget populationoftheprogramsrangedfrom individualswithspecificdiseasestohealthylocalresidents. Inaddition, the programs covered a wide range of topics, including disease management and health promotion strategies. However, the number of well-structured regional specialized programs remain edlimited. Collaboration among local governments, schools, and public health centers was found to be in effective.

Conclusion

Tofurther disseminatehealthpromotionprogramsusingforests, thecentral governmentwillneedtodevelopwell-structuredprograms, providefundingandresourcestosupport localgovern-ments, and focus on raising public awareness of the health benefits of forest therapy.

Keywords: Forest therapy, Forest healing, Health promotion

References

1. Korea Forest Service. [Forest Welfare Master Plan]. Daejeon: Korea Forest Service;2013.
2. KimKW.Theoreticalstudy of characteristics of therapeutic elements and application to forest therapy. J Korean Soc People Plants Environ. 2006; 9(4):111–23.
3. Kim KW. Technical methods for enhancing the health effect intherecreational forest. J KoreanSoc PeoplePlants Environ. 1999; 2(4):1–11.
4. Kang MJ, Kwak KH, Ahn YS, An KW, Kim EI. Basic plan for creating a healing forest in Jangheunggun. J Korean isl. 2011; 23(2):103–20.
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9. Yoo RH, Kim JW, Ha SY, Yoon EY, Kim JJ.Analysis of the internal and external case using therapeutic function of forests. In: [KoreanForest SocietyConference]; 2007Aug 30–31; Wonju, Korea. Seoul: Korean Forest Society;2007. p. 462–3.
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13. An KW, Lee KH, Jeon KS, Yoo RH, Park JS, Kim SL. A case study of forest therapeutic programs in Japan. In: [2007 Conference of Korean Institute of Forest Recreation]; 2007 Apr; Korea. [place unknown]: Korean Institute of Forest Recreation;. 2007. 61–7.
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Fig. 1.
Networks among local agencies involved in health promotion programs using forests.
pns-11-30f1.tif
Table 1.
Health Care Programs Provided by Public Health Centers
Types of health care programs Public health centers providing health care programs Public health centers providing health care programs using forests
  n(%) n(%)
Total 227(100.0) 29(100.0)
Smoking cessation programs 227(100.0) 1(0.4)
Regional health behavioral change programs 225(99.1) 4(1.8)
Health screening programs 222(97.8) 0(0.0)
Cardio-cerebrovascular disease prevention and management programs 227(100.0) 0(0.0)
Mental health programs 226(99.6) 2(0.9)
Atopic dermatitis and asthma management programs 20(8.8) 7(35)
Healthy Cities programs 21(9.3) 3(14.3)
Metabolic syndrome management programs 21(9.3) 11(52.4)
School health promotion programs 7(3.1) 0(0.0)
Geriatric syndrome and instrumental activities of daily living 2(0.9) 0(0.0)
Health education and program planning 3(1.3) 0(0.0)
Obesity prevention and management programs 6(2.6) 0(0.0)
Life Long Health care programs 2(0.9) 0(0.0)
Healthy lifestyle (exercise) programs for adults 5(2.2) 1(20.0)
Health care program for elderly 11(4.8) 0(0.0)
Alcohol counseling centers 3(1.3) 1(33.3)
Adolescent health promotion programs 2(0.9) 2(100.0)
Health promotion projects and the national planning 1(0.4) 0(0.0)
Exercise programs for all ages 2(0.9) 0(0.0)
Table 2.
Life-cycle based Programs using Forests
Developmenta stages al Categories of health care program Target groups Activities
School-aged Mental health programs Internet addicted children and teenagers Physical activity
children     (walking) in forests
  Atopic dermatitis and asthma Atopic dermatitis /asthma patients Physical activity
  management programs   (walking) in forests
  Healthy Cities programs Atopic dermatitis patients Physical activity
      (walking) in forests
Adult Regional health behavioral change Metabolic syndrome, Alcohol addicted Physical activity
  programs patients (for management) (walking) in forests
    Local residents (for prevention) Physical activity
      (walking) in forests
Elderly Regional health behavioral change programs Local residents Physical activity (walking) in forests
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