Group Outdoor Health Walks Using Activity Trackers: Measurement and Implementation Insight from a Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

Abstract

Outdoor walking groups are nature-based interventions (NBIs) that promote health and wellbeing by modifying individual behaviour. The challenges of such NBIs include the motivation of inactive adults to participate and measurement issues. This feasibility study investigates a 12-week group outdoor health walk (GOHW) incorporating activity trackers and use of a holistic health and wellbeing measure, the Self-sasessment of Change (SAC) scale. A mixed methods design explored participant recruitment and retention, programme delivery, and measures of physical activity and health and wellbeing. Walker data included: pre-post questionnaires, daily step counts, and interviews. Programme delivery information included: weekly checklists, staff reflections, stakeholder meeting minutes, and a report. Thirteen adults (age 63-81, 76% female) joined and completed the activity tracker GOHW. Activity trackers motivated walkers to join and be more active but complicated programme delivery. Activity trackers allowed the quantification of physical activity and the SAC health and wellbeing measure was easy to use. By week 12, all participants met national physical activity guidelines. Clinically relevant changes on the SAC scale included: sleeping well, experiencing vibrant senses, and feeling energised, focused, joyful, calm and whole. Results illustrate the feasibility of using activity trackers to motivate engagement in and provide a measure of physical activity from GOHWs. The SAC scale offers a promising measure for nature-health research. A conceptual model is provided for the development of future large-scale studies of NBIs, such as group outdoor health walks.

Outdoor Recreation for Older Adults in Scotland: Qualitatively Exploring the Multiplicity of Constraints to Participation

“…Paddon’s [ 18 ] findings resonate with the experiences of George (Vignette 2). There is a need for further research that focuses on the way to facilitate social access in a number of different ways, specifically for gender and including outdoor walking groups [ 9 , 46 ].…”

“…Caloguiri and Elliot [ 8 ], however, warn that the link between natural environments and health is complex and not yet fully understood. Indeed, Irvine et al [ 9 ] argue that inventions that seek to promote health and wellbeing through contact with the natural environment should be conceptualised as a complex intervention.…”

The Wilderness Solo Experience: A Unique Practice of Silence and Solitude for Personal Growth

“…Within the limits of this paper and in light of our objective to gain a better understanding regarding the value of silence and solitude to personal growth, additional components of the experience were not reviewed. Assessing additional components (e.g., experiencing the solo with others; personal history, specifically in connection with experiences in the wilderness; personal characteristics that may support or limit the ability to be alone in silence; therapeutic objectives that may focus more on coping with being alone rather than gaining personal insight; professional conduct, including the alliance and trust that provides sufficient support; and adequate preparation and integration) would contribute to our understanding of the phenomena toward a general conceptualization of the solo experience as a nature - based intervention that promotes health and well-being as provided by Irvine et al (2020) in their model for nature-based interventions. Further inquiry is required to gain a better understanding specifically regarding the therapeutic value of experiencing silence toward personal, social, and environmental health.…”

Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework

“…The asset-based approach to health has led to the development of a person-and asset-based 'social prescribing' movement, whereby nonmedical interventions are provided to promote health and alleviate the pressure on acute medical care facilities (Polley et al, 2017). Social prescriptions can include nature-based interventions (Cook, Howarth and Wheater, 2019), such as outdoor walking groups (Marselle et al, 2015(Marselle et al, , 2016Irvine et al, 2020), forest-bathing or horticulture-based therapies (e.g. https://www.adoseofnature.net/).…”