The Greenspace Project: an evaluative and comparative study; Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating a Green Health programme at New Craigs Hospital from the perspectives of patients and staff: a mixed-methods approach.
IRAS ID
316620
Contact name
Trish Gorely
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of the Highlands and Islands
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 29 days
Research summary
This study will evaluate the 'Greenspace Project' at New Craigs Hospital in Inverness and compare this with a similar project based at Gartnavel Royal Hospital in Glasgow. The Greenspace work at both hospitals was commissioned by the Green Exercise Partnership (GEP) - comprising NatureScot, Scottish Forestry, NHS Scotland and Public Health Scotland - which aims to promote use of the NHS estate for therapeutic activity for the benefit of staff, patients, visitors and the local community.
Firstly, this research aims to evaluate the project at New Craigs to ascertain whether the project has been productive in facilitating nature-based therapeutic intervention with patients. Secondly, it will highlight the practicalities of running green health activities within a healthcare setting through discussion with staff at both New Craigs and Gartnavel. The purpose of this is to be able to make recommendations for those aspiring to facilitate similar projects within hospital settings and to learn from the experience of staff and patients at both hospitals. This will provide a more comprehensive view of what the practicalities are, what the challenges have been for both hospitals and what might help to overcome these challenges. It is hoped that by compiling this information, others can refer to and adapt the learning gained and apply it to similar green health projects within comparable settings and populations.
The research aims to answer the following questions:
1. Has the project facilitated interventions involving engagement with nature with patients within New Craigs hospital?
2. What do staff at both Gartnavel and New Craigs hospitals perceive to be the main facilitators and barriers to use of the natural environment for therapeutic intervention, and what impact has the Greenspace Demonstration projects had on this?REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0025
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion