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. 2020 May 12;17(10):3368.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103368.

The Wildman Programme. A Nature-Based Rehabilitation Programme Enhancing Quality of Life for Men on Long-Term Sick Leave: Study Protocol for a Matched Controlled Study In Denmark

Simon Høegmark  1 , Tonny Elmose Andersen  1 , Patrik Grahn  2 , Kirsten Kaya Roessler  1
Affiliations

The Wildman Programme. A Nature-Based Rehabilitation Programme Enhancing Quality of Life for Men on Long-Term Sick Leave: Study Protocol for a Matched Controlled Study In Denmark

Simon Høegmark et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Many men have poor mental health and need help to recover. However, designing a rehabilitation intervention that appeals to men is challenging. This study protocol aims to describe the 'Wildman Programme', which will be a nature-based rehabilitation programme for men on long-term sick leave due to health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, post-cancer and chronic cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, or diabetes type II. The programme will be a nature-based rehabilitation initiative combining nature experiences, attention training, body awareness training, and supporting community spirit. The aim of the study will be to examine whether the 'Wildman Programme' can help to increase quality of life and reduce stress among men with health problems compared to treatment as usual. The study will be a matched control study where an intervention group (number of respondents, N = 52) participating in a 12-week nature-based intervention will be compared to a control group (N = 52) receiving treatment as usual. Outcomes are measured at baseline (T1), post-treatment (T2), and at follow up 6 months post-intervention (T3). The results of this study will be important to state whether the method in the 'Wildman Programme' can be implemented as a rehabilitation offer in the Danish Healthcare System to help men with different health problems.

Keywords: chronic illness; men; mental health; nature-based intervention; nature–body–mind–community (NBMC), biophilia; quality of life; stress; supportive environment theory (SET).

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Conflict of interest statement

Simon Høegmark has been a part of the development of the ‘Wildman Programme’. However, the ‘Wildman Programme’ will during the study be led by staff from the health centers in the Municipality of Svendborg and Faaborg-Midtfyn. Simon owns a small company, and he and his companion have educated the staff in the methods of the ‘Wildman Programme’. Simon Høegmark gets no financial benefits from the project.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The elements in the Nature–Body–Mind–Community approach in the ‘Wildman Programme’.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart for the study of the ‘Wildman Programme’.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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