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Evidence-Based Status of Forest Healing Program in South Korea

Author

Listed:
  • Sujin Park

    (Forest Policy and Economics Department, Forest Welfare Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)

  • Soojin Kim

    (Forest Policy and Economics Department, Forest Welfare Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)

  • Geonwoo Kim

    (Forest Policy and Economics Department, Forest Welfare Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)

  • Yeji Choi

    (Forest Policy and Economics Department, Forest Welfare Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)

  • Eunsoo Kim

    (Forest Policy and Economics Department, Forest Welfare Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)

  • Domyung Paek

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
    Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea)

Abstract

Various effects of forest healing on health have been reported, but a certification system to assess the effectiveness of forest healing programs does not exist. In this study, a systematic review (SR) on the “health benefits of forests” and “meta-analysis of forest therapy” was conducted after analyzing the status and level of evidence of 75 forest healing programs that were conducted post-certification in South Korea. The SR for “health benefits of forests” distinguished between activities and time, resulting in 90.9% of walking activities for more than an hour under psychological health, and 100.0% of exercise activities for less than an hour under physiological health. However, the effect of indirect activities performed for more than an hour was unknown. Thus, we confirmed that many indoor activities in the field had low effect size or no established basis regarding the feasibility of its operation. The SR on “meta-analysis of forest therapy” to check whether the program was effective. The highest number of healing effects were obtained for blood pressure (32), followed by psychological depression (24). The findings of this can serve as baseline data to facilitate future development and dissemination of evidence-based forest healing programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Sujin Park & Soojin Kim & Geonwoo Kim & Yeji Choi & Eunsoo Kim & Domyung Paek, 2021. "Evidence-Based Status of Forest Healing Program in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10368-:d:648515
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bingyang Lyu & Chengcheng Zeng & Shouhong Xie & Di Li & Wei Lin & Nian Li & Mingyan Jiang & Shiliang Liu & Qibing Chen, 2019. "Benefits of A Three-Day Bamboo Forest Therapy Session on the Psychophysiology and Immune System Responses of Male College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Ohe, Yasuo & Ikei, Harumi & Song, Chorong & Miyazaki, Yoshifumi, 2017. "Evaluating the relaxation effects of emerging forest-therapy tourism: A multidisciplinary approach," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 322-334.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Eun Young Park & Min Kyung Song & Sang Yi Baek, 2023. "Analysis of Perceptions, Preferences, and Participation Intention of Urban Forest Healing Program among Cancer Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-11, January.

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