Green Spaces for Stroke Units
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the potential impact of green spaces for in-patient stroke units: A mixed methods study
IRAS ID
351285
Contact name
Anne Forster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research suggests that green spaces such as gardens can benefit people in hospital. They can provide a stimulating environment for social and physical activity and improve well-being. However, this topic has not been explored in stroke care. Using green space may improve opportunities for, and the experience of, rehabilitation and post-stroke care but there may also be problems due to access and the weather. We aim to explore whether green spaces at hospital sites can provide benefits for in-patients with stroke, their families and staff, and identify the important features that make a difference. We will work with three hospitals in different places with different types of space, e.g., those used for therapy, those newly designed for stroke survivors, and long-established spaces. A researcher will observe who uses the spaces and record their main activities. We will do this for ten days twice in each site, in different seasons. We will interview ten stroke patients (with different experiences) and ten visitors from each hospital (who accessed the green space). We will ask what makes it easy or difficult to use the space; their likes and dislikes; what they do and how they feel when using the space. We will speak to them in the space if possible and again after they have returned home. We will also include those who have not used the space to understand why. We will interview ten stroke staff at each hospital and ask them about using the space, both with and without patients. We will ask questions similar to those we ask patients.
Then we will run expert groups with stroke survivors, carers and staff in three different areas. We will present our findings about how spaces are used and the experiences. Together, we will develop recommendations for green spaces for other stroke units.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0281
Date of REC Opinion
3 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion