NCT02623855

Stay Healthy In Nature Everyday: Family Nature Outings in a Low Income Population

Stay Healthy In Nature Everyday: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effect of Family Nature Outings on Stress and Physical Inactivity in a Low Income Population

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 156 (actual)
• Sponsor: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The SHINE study is a randomized controlled study of the effect of a park-based family support group on multiple outcomes (including stress and physical activity) in a low income population.

Detailed description

Despite mounting evidence that nature matters for human health, we are not aware of any prospective intervention trials looking at the use of nature as a health intervention. Like other protective factors, such as the presence of a caring adult, safe play places, greater stimulation, the presence of green-space in a child's life has been empirically linked to greater resilience. Nature has been proposed as a buffer to stress through several pathways: by providing a space for friends and families to gather (thereby increasing social support and improving family relationships), by increasing opportunities for physical activity, and by improving cognition. Research to date suggests that participation in outdoor activities facilitates a sense of connectedness to place. This sense of attachment may also provide a form of social support. Families served by Children's Hospital Oakland Primary Care Clinic experience high levels of stress. As a safety-net clinic, the primary care clinic serves a diverse set of patients, with a common thread of poverty. The Stay Healthy In Nature program was developed to encourage stress management skills through play and physical activity in parks. The program uses a combination of facilitated and independent outings into local parks to encourage sustained behavior change and measurable health benefits.

Conditions

• Stress, Psychological
• Social Isolation
• Physical Activity

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Family outings	Participants will be invited to three weekly outings to local parks, case management and support in getting to nature. Participants will be offered transportation to the outings and s meal at local nature destinations. Programming at the park will include a picnic and walk with nature exploration, and will be facilitated by park and clinic staff.
BEHAVIORAL	Park prescription	Participants will receive a map of local parks, and the recommendation to be physically active outdoors three days a week in nature.
DEVICE	Pedometry	Participants will record their daily pedometry.
BEHAVIORAL	Case Management	Participants will receive a phone call to list potential barriers to participating in nature outings, and will talk through solutions with an investigator. Participants will be offered assistance with transportation if necessary.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-07-01
• Primary completion: 2016-09-01
• Completion: 2017-01-01
• First posted: 2015-12-08
• Last updated: 2020-11-30
• Results posted: 2019-02-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States