• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.735-747
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• 2023

This study was conducted to identify the appropriate space requirements for forest healing program for physical and mental health care of female cancer survivors in their 40s and 60s. From September to November 2023, 12 cancer survivors were surveyed at Chungnam National University Forest and Daejeon Healing Forest. One Forest Therapy instructor and two researchers conducted a forest healing program once a week for eight sessions of two hours each, Perceptions and satisfaction with the program and space were assessed using pre and post program questionnaires, and the effect of participation in the forest healing program on mood status was evaluated. The satisfaction survey results were supplemented by qualitative studies conducted through post-interviews. Result of the analysis showed that the satisfaction of the participants was very high (4.8/5.0). There was a notable increase in vigor and a decrease in total mood disturbance after participation in the program. Toilets and water facilities (11), tool boxes (9), pest control facilities (3), deck facilities (3), forest hut (3), electrical outlets (2), shade shelters (2), and shoe hairy (1) were proposed as required facilities for cancer survivors. This study demonstrated that the forest healing program is effective in reducing distress in female cancer survivors in their 40s and 60s and appropriate facility standards for the forest healing space are needed to increase the satisfaction of cancer survivors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.294-299
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of a forest healing program on the level of job stress and the profile of mood states (POMS). 38 public servants who were in charge of social welfare in A city as well as 24 metal health care workers in C province participated in the forest healing programs. The data were collected by a pretest-posttest design. The data analysis showed that both job stress and POMS levels were significantly improved by the forest healing program. The therapeutic effects of forests are highly expected to be utilized for healing programs for job stress reduction and burnout prevention.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2018

Previous studies have shown that forest therapy program can help prevent dementia. However, few studies have focused on low-income elderly people living alone. The current study examined the meanings that the elderly living alone receiving medical care assigned to the urban forest therapy program, as a way to understand the pathways that nature-based intervention affect preventing dementia. Twenty-one participants were recruited and they participated in a five-week urban forest therapy program. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 21 participants who experienced the urban forest therapy program, and analyzed qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results showed that all themes identified were related to connectedness with oneself, neighbors and nature. Awarenesses of change were consisted of positive and negative themes. The themes of positive awareness were improvements of mental and emotional condition, feelings of isolation and loneliness, and health-related lifestyle. The negative themes were terminations of short-term programs and inconvenient access to the urban forest. Based on these data, we suggest an urban green welfare framework for future research and interventions for preventing dementia of underprivileged elderly group.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.227-234
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• 2013

The purpose of the study is to realize and develop the healing process that applies the Forest Healing Program to complementary and alternative therapies within the integrated medical health care place call ' Healing Forest'. Various healing programs need to develope and distribute to educate tentatively name ' Forest Healing Instructor' whom will be the key roll player on the program. Hereupon, collected the feedback of the program from 20 of professors, health care professionals and complementary alternative related professionals who are deeply related on the dendrology using Delphi examine. The study suggests the professional, who knows on dendrology, base medicine knowledge and healing power, Forest Healing Instructor Course includes education and assessment method base on education subject, course complete scope, instructor curriculum, education goal and education operation process. The Journal of Digital Policy & Management. This space is for the of your study in English.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.245-254
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• 2020

Patients diagnosed with cancer face mental problems such as alienation, isolation, anxiety about death and fear, recovering from psychological difficulties. In this study, a forest healing program was provided for cancer patients to recover from psychological stress, depression, social isolation and self-esteem caused by cancer and changes in salivary cortisol through psychological and emotional recovery were measured. From September 19 to November 28, 2017, a forest healing program composed of a total of 10 sessions, two hours per session was provided for 12 cancer patients in the Forest of Taegyo located in Yongin. Psychological tests were performed with Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS), Korean-version Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 18.0. The salivary cortisol level was measured along with the psychological tests and were analyzed by a specialized testing agency. The results of the analysis showed that the pre- and post-assessment score of SASS was 29.17 and 25.92, respectively, and that the pre- and post-assessment score of PSS was 30.50 and 23.92, respectively. The pre- and post-assessment score of BDI was 41.00 and 34.83, respectively, which showed significant differences. In addition, the pre- and post-assessment level of saliva cortisol was 3.13 and 1.68, respectively, showing a significant decrease. In short, the forest healing program was found to be effective in reducing physiological changes caused by social isolation and stress due to the emotional and psychological difficulties that the subjects who were diagnosed with cancer and were recovering from it have. In the future, it will be necessary to develop and implement a forest healing program by conducting a forest healing requirement survey on cancer patients.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.683-694
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• 2020

Background and objective: Cancer is the number one cause of death in Korea, and it affects any part of the body regardless of gender and age. Forest healing is a treatment that maximizes the effect of treatment and improves the quality of life. This study aims to provide basic data for the development and implementation of differentiated forest healing programs for cancer patients based on the survey on their interest and needs for the programs. Methods: The subjects were those diagnosed with cancer from October 2018 to April 2019, and this study used 144 copies of the questionnaire retrieved. The sample size of this study (n = 144) was the appropriate size required by G-Power, and the collected responses were analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Results: In the frequency analysis on the interest in forest healing, 79.2% of the subjects had no experience participating in forest healing, but 87% were aware of it, and 82.6% showed the intention to participate in forest healing programs. This indicates that even though not many of them have experience participating in forest healing, they showed high interest and needs for participation. They preferred to participate in spring (29.9%) and fall (27.8%), in programs carried out for 1.5-2 hours in the morning on weekdays. Conclusion: This study has implications for the analysis on forest healing needs of cancer patients, and it is necessary to plan, develop, and implement differentiated forest healing programs that meet the needs of the cancer patients depending on their characteristics. There is also a need to plan forest healing program that can promote both psychological stability and physical health of cancer patients and verify and evaluate their effects based on specialized training of forest healing instructors.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.95-112
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• 2021

This study analyzed the effects of healing agriculture program types on program satisfaction by using functional image and emotional image of the program as mediators for the participants of healing agriculture program. The sub-variables of the healing agriculture program were classified into horticultural healing, animal healing, food healing, and forest healing. 328 questionnaires collected from the participants of healing agriculture program in the whole country were used for empirical analysis, which used SPSS v22.0 and PROCESS macro v3.4 to analyze the parallel multiple mediation model. First, Among the types of healing agriculture programs, animal healing, food healing, and forest healing had a positive (+) effect on functional image. Second, all types of healing agriculture program had a positive (+) effect on emotional image. Third, both functional and emotional images had a significant positive effect on satisfaction. Fourth, among the types of healing agriculture program, horticultural healing, animal healing, and forest healing had a significant effect on satisfaction, while food healing did not maintain the significant effect on satisfaction. Fifth, functional image mediated between healing agriculture program and satisfaction. Sixth, emotional image mediated between healing agriculture program type and satisfaction. In the next study, it is necessary to study for the adjustment of mediators other than the mediators introduced in this study or the controlled mediated analysis through the conditional process model in which the moderator variable is introduced.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.51-61
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• 2015

The necessity of universal design for forestry is increasing. Although several studies applied universal design in forest site, they had been only concentrated on the barrier-free design for the limited activities rather than overall utilization for considering all visitors from the disabled, the elderly and the infirm to the baby and child. The purpose of this study is to find out the principle of the universal design within forest welfare service facilities by analysing how socially disadvantaged people perceive overall usage of natural recreation forest area. This study figures out the main principles of universal design in forest welfare through analyzing usage of children and disabilities in Yumyeongsan natural recreation forest where is one of the popular type of forest welfare area. By doing focus interviews targeted on children and disabilities, the results are analyzed through semantic network analysis, objectively. The result proves that universal design in forest welfare area contains four principles; convenience, safety, diversity and amenity. Also it confirmed that disabilities need better internal space facilities and priority care. Through those characters of universal design, forest area will be able to cover more various type of users as forest welfare area.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.58-69
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• 2021

Purpose:In this study, we reviewed existing victim support programs implemented in Korea to aid in the development of psychosocial support programs for patients and guardians who have experienced patient safety incidents. Methods: We reviewed similar programs: a support program for suicide survivors operated by the Korea Psychological Autopsy Center (Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention), a family harmony program for workers in industrial accidents operated by the National Center for Forest Therapy, and the support services for crime victims provided by the Korean Crime Victims Support Association. We reviewed the contents of each website and conducted interviews with key personnel from each institution. Results: The support program for families who have experienced suicide was developed based on the suicide prevention project at the Central Psychological Autopsy Center. The family harmony program for workers who suffered industrial accidents is operated by the National Center for Forest Therapy at the behest of the Korean Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service. The Korean Crime Victims Support Association was established by the Ministry of Justice in accordance with the Crime Victim Protection Act and provides support to victims of crime. Each program was designed and implemented considering the objectives and goals, defining their recruitment plans as well as the selection criteria for their participants, and creating quality content that adequately addressed the struggles of their participants. Conclusion: The summarization of the various types of victim support programs in this study can be helpful in the future development of psychosocial support programs for victims of patient safety incidents.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2014

Purpose: In recent years, many attempts have been made to examine the effects of forest therapy on health and to develop related policies. This study aimed to explore the current status of health promotion programs using forests provided by public health centers and to identify program diffusion strategies employed within different communities. Methods: For this descriptive study, we analyzed the 5th regional public health care program plans and explored the perceptions of health care workers attached with the programs using open-ended questionnaires and a focus group interview. Results: This study confirmed the necessity for health promotion programs using forests, as well as administrative and educational demands for such programs. The target population of the programs ranged from individuals with specific diseases to healthy local residents. In addition, the programs covered a wide range of topics, including disease management and health promotion strategies. However, the number of well-structured regional specialized programs remained limited. Collaboration among local governments, schools, and public health centers was found to be ineffective. Conclusion: To further disseminate health promotion programs using forests, the central government will need to develop well-structured programs, provide funding and resources to support local governments, and focus on raising public awareness of the health benefits of forest therapy.