Disease-specific research: Cancer

The impact of greenspace or nature-based interventions on cardiovascular health or cancer-related outcomes: A systematic review of experimental studies

Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. While having different etiologies, CVD and cancer are linked by multiple shared risk factors, the presence of which exacerbate adverse outcomes for individuals with either disease. For both pathologies, factors such as poverty, lack of physical activity (PA), poor dietary intake, and climate change increase risk of adverse outcomes. Prior research has shown that greenspaces and other nature-based interventions (NBIs) contribute to improved health outcomes and climate change resilience. Of 2565 articles retrieved, 31 articles were considered. (26 articles studied cardiovascular related outcomes and 5 studied cancer-related outcomes.) Interventions were coded into 4 categories: forest bathing, green exercise, gardening, and nature viewing. Outcomes included blood pressure (BP), cancer-related quality of life (QoL) and (more infrequently) biomarkers of CVD risk. (1) Clinical implication: Healthcare providers should consider the promotion of nature-based programs to improve health outcomes. (2) Policy implication: There is a need for investment in equitable greenspaces to improve health outcomes and build climate resilientneighborhoods. (3) Research or academic implication: Research partnerships with community-based organizations for a comprehensive study of benefits associated with NBIs should be encouraged to reduce health disparities and ensure intergenerational health equity. There is a need for investigation of the mechanisms by which NBIs impact CVD and exploration of the role of CVD biological markers of inflammation among cancer survivors.

Bikomeye JC, Balza JS, Kwarteng JL, Beyer AM, Beyer KMM. The impact of greenspace or nature-based interventions on cardiovascular health or cancer-related outcomes: A systematic review of experimental studies. PLoS One. 2022;17(11):e0276517. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276517. 

The effect of nature as positive distractibility on the Healing Process of Patients with cancer in therapeutic settings. 

Environmental design has a positive effect on patient health. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nature on positive distraction on the Healing Process of Patients with Cancer.

This research is a descriptive-correlational study which conducted on 80 cancer patients in an educational center with two different outlooks (natural view and no natural view) in Hamadan, Iran from March to May 2017. Patients were selected by convenience sampling method based on inclusion criteria. Two kinds of questionnaires were distributed among who view natural landscapes (nature group) and who don’t view natural landscapes (no nature group). Two groups compared in terms of pain and anxiety.

Findings of the study indicate that admitted patients viewing natural scenery had less anxiety and painthan admitted patients viewing no natural scenes.

Conclusion: Natural scenes caused to reduce the pain and anxiety, so using this healing power of nature leads to positive distraction.
Emami E, Amini R, Motalebi G. The effect of nature as positive distractibility on the Healing Process of Patients with cancer in therapeutic settings. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 Aug;32:70-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.05.005. Epub 2018 May 24. PMID: 30057062.