Which characteristics of urban natural environments deliver the health & wellbeing benefits?

Aims and approach

Work package 3 aims to understand how urban natural environment characteristics deliver health and wellbeing benefits.

A large-scale quasi-experimental study with a control group is proposed using data collection via a novel smartphone application (App) based on an internet study (Richardson & Sheffield, under review), which records users’ journey, locations, and duration of stay in natural environments, thereby allowing exposure to types of natural environment to be calculated.

Further context will be provided by prompting users to notice nature, record the ‘good things in nature’ and perceived levels of biodiversity. These prompts will be time and location (e.g. hot spot) based.

Work package 1 will provide Geographic Information Systems and Science, natural environment typology and biodiversity mapping and work package 2 will provide a framework of potential barriers and facilitators to natural environment engagement.

The ‘good things in nature’ data generated will undergo quantitative analysis as part of work package 2. The analysis of natural environment characteristics will inform work package 4. The use of EQ5D will inform health economic analysis in WPs 3 & 4.

Anticipated Outputs

1. EQ5D data to inform health economic analysis in WP4.
2. Green prescription version of the App with feedback loop to provide audit data via automated email to the referring clinician to provide greater GP uptake.

People

Eleanor Comley
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Dr Kirsten McEwan
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Prof David Sheffield
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Dr Miles Richardson
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