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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06001723

A Feasibility Study to Determine Whether the Botanical Garden Become a Region of Forest Therapy for Cancer Survivors

The forest healing system is an important topic of alternative therapy in recent years. To investigates forest therapy's effectiveness in alleviating negative emotions among post-cancer patients. It compares therapy outcomes at Taipei Botanical Garden and Fushan Botanical Garden. Utilizing a pretest-posttest experimental design, a two-hour guided forest healing activity serves as the intervention method. Data collection involves instrumental tests and saliva samples.

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Key information

Conditions

Neoplasms Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Cancer Depression Mental Disorders Mental Health Disorder

Age range

36 year–82 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Taipei city hospital

Taipei, 10845, Taiwan

About this study

Introduction:

Cancer's global impact persists, ranking among the top three causes of death in Taiwan. Despite improved survival rates after cancer surgery, negative emotions among patients remain a challenge. Post-cancer depression adversely affects treatment outcomes and overall quality of life. Forest therapy, a natural healing approach, has gained attention for its potential to reduce stress, mitigate negative emotions, and enhance well-being.

Objectives:

This study investigates forest therapy's effectiveness in alleviating negative emotions among post-cancer patients. It compares therapy outcomes at Taipei Botanical Garden and Fushan Botanical Garden. Additionally, the study explores the lasting emotional benefits of forest therapy.

Methods:

Utilizing a pretest-posttest experimental design, this study is conducted at the Botanical Garden in Fushan, Taipei. Participants are cancer patients who are six months post-treatment. A two-hour guided forest healing activity serves as the intervention method. Data collection involves instrumental tests and saliva samples. A comparable location adjacent to Taipei Botanical Garden, excluding urban areas, is selected for comparison activities. Portable heart rhythm monitors track data, and saliva samples are analyzed for salivary α-amylase enzyme kinetics and cortisol concentrations. The study employs questionnaires including the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short (POMS2-A short), Beck Depression Inventory-Second edition (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the abbreviated Taiwan version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Over 20 year-old
  • Cancer patients finished cancer treatments more than 6 months (regardless hormone therapy)
  • Voluntary attendance

Exclusion criteria

  • People who unable to walk for at least 120 minutes
  • People who still smoking, chewing betel nut or drinking alcohol (over five standard cups in any situation)
  • People who addicted to medicine
  • People who attend another clinical trial at the same time or in the follow-up period of an interventional trial
  • Pregnant women or breast feeding
  • Other conditions that participants unable to cooperate with

Treatment and study plan

Forest Therapy

Behavioral

Forest healing activities are guided by professionals, allowing participants to engage in a two-hour sensory experience within the forest environment. This includes activities such as stacking leaves and stones, closing their eyes to listen to sounds, engaging in physical stretches, blindfolded tree identification, connecting with tree companions, creating earth mandalas, and partaking in tea ceremonies and sharing insights.

Primary outcomes

  1. questionnaire: POMS2-A short (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short at Fushan botanical garden

  2. questionnaire: POMS2-A short (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short at Taipei botanical garden

  3. questionnaire: POMS2-A short (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult short at urban region

  4. questionnaire: BAI (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of The Beck Anxiety Inventory at Fushan botanical garden

  5. questionnaire: BAI (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of The Beck Anxiety Inventory at Taipei botanical garden

  6. questionnaire: BAI (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of The Beck Anxiety Inventory at urban region

  7. questionnaire: BDI-II (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of The Beck Depression Inventory II at Fushan botanical garden

  8. questionnaire: BDI-II (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of baseline The Beck Depression Inventory II at Taipei botanical garden

  9. questionnaire: BDI-II (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of baseline The Beck Depression Inventory II at urban region

  10. questionnaire: WHOQOL-BREF (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (Taiwan version) at Fushan botanical garden

  11. questionnaire: WHOQOL-BREF (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (Taiwan version) at Taipei botanical garden

  12. questionnaire: WHOQOL-BREF (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (Taiwan version) at urban region

  13. physiological indicator: alpha-amylase activity in salivary (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of alpha-amylase activity in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Fushan botanical garden

  14. physiological indicator: alpha-amylase activity in salivary (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of alpha-amylase activity in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Taipei botanical garden

  15. physiological indicator: alpha-amylase activity in salivary (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of alpha-amylase activity in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at urban region

  16. physiological indicator: cortisol concentration in salivary (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of cortisol concentration in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Fushan botanical garden

  17. physiological indicator: cortisol concentration in salivary (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of cortisol concentration in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at Taipei botanical garden

  18. physiological indicator: cortisol concentration in salivary (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of cortisol concentration in salivary by using commercial kits (Salimetrics®) at urban region

  19. physiological indicator: HRV (Heart Rate Variability) (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of HRV by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure heart rate, heart rate variability (related to activities of the autonomic nervous system ANS), irregular heartbeats (IRRHB), and 5-minute continuous pulse wave at Fushan botanical garden

  20. physiological indicator: HRV (Heart Rate Variability) (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of HRV by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure heart rate, heart rate variability (related to activities of the autonomic nervous system ANS), irregular heartbeats (IRRHB), and 5-minute continuous pulse wave at Taipei botanical garden

  21. physiological indicator: HRV (Heart Rate Variability) (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of HRV by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure heart rate, heart rate variability (related to activities of the autonomic nervous system ANS), irregular heartbeats (IRRHB), and 5-minute continuous pulse wave at urban region

  22. physiological indicator: blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) (Fushan botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Fushan botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of blood pressures by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) at Fushan botanical garden

  23. physiological indicator: blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) (Taipei botanical garden)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at Taipei botanical garden → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of blood pressures by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) at Taipei botanical garden

  24. physiological indicator: blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) (urban region)

    Time frame: per-test → 2 hours intervention at urban region → post-test immediately after the intervention

    Change of blood pressures by using wrist monitors (ANSWatch®) to measure blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) at urban region

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Taipei City Hospital

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • Taiwan Forestry Research Institute

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Aug 21, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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