Audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing in moderately affected Long/Post-COVID patients: A pre-post pilot-study

Q2 Medicine

Mental Health and Prevention Pub Date : 2024-08-14 DOI:10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200359

Anna J. Torner , Anika Meißner , Alicia Borchert , Gisela Immich , Kristian Folta-Schoofs

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Long/Post-COVID patients are in urgent need of specialized treatment. Forest bathing has shown to promote health and well-being, and thus may be an appropriate treatment option. This pilot study aimed to investigate both the feasibility of a two-week audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing intervention and pre-to-post symptom changes in Long/Post-COVID patients.

Methods

A repeated-measures design was employed to collect self-reported data on Long/Post-COVID symptoms, fatigue, well-being and stress-coping strategies from moderately affected Long/Post-COVID patients (N = 46, N = 36 included; recruited through media) prior to and following participation in the forest bathing program. Pulse rate was monitored through smartwatches. Feasibility was assessed by analysis of dropout rates.

Results

The dropout rate was 22 % due to physical and environmental conditions. We observed decreased overall Long/Post-COVID symptoms (p < .001) and fatigue (p < .001), increased well-being (p < .001) and a more adaptive use of stress-coping strategies (p < .01) over time. Participants` pulse rate fell within the normal range after a forest “walk” (p < .001).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that further research on audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing is warranted, since this approach may offer a feasible and cost-effective method for the complementary treatment of moderate Long/Post-COVID.

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对中度受影响的长期/后COVID患者进行音频引导和正念森林浴：一项前后试点研究

目标长期/后COVID患者急需专业治疗。森林浴能促进健康和幸福，因此可能是一种合适的治疗方法。本试验性研究旨在调查为期两周的音频指导和正念式森林浴干预的可行性，以及长/后COVID患者症状前后的变化。方法采用重复测量设计，收集中度受影响的长/后COVID患者（N = 46，其中N = 36；通过媒体招募）在参加森林浴计划前后关于长/后COVID症状、疲劳、幸福感和压力应对策略的自我报告数据。通过智能手表监测脉搏。结果由于身体和环境条件的原因，退出率为 22%。我们观察到，随着时间的推移，长期/后COVID症状（p < .001）和疲劳（p < .001）总体有所减轻，幸福感有所提高（p < .001），压力应对策略的使用更具适应性（p < .01）。结论我们的研究结果表明，有必要对音频引导和基于正念的森林浴进行进一步研究，因为这种方法可以为中度长期/后COVID的辅助治疗提供一种可行且具有成本效益的方法。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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