Physiological RecoveryHybridNatureNCT05830656
Hybrid- Nature: Recovering From Work Through Nature Experiences
A study testing Exposure to nearby nature and Exposure to virtual nature in people with Physiological Recovery and Psychological Recovery, run by JAMK University Of Applied Sciences at 1 site in Finland.
Trial summary
The research examines employees' recovery from work stress during visits in nearby nature and when viewing virtual nature with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles. The research provides information on the physiological and psychological recovery of employees who do remote or hybrid work. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Physiological Recovery, Psychological Recovery, Restorative Experiences
- What is being tested?
- Exposure to nearby nature and Exposure to virtual nature
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 57 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFinland
- Study dates
- 17 Jan 2023to 16 Jun 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Employees who do remote or hybrid work
- Able to communicate adequately in Finnish in order to participate
Who cannot join
- No exclusion criteria for study participation.
- Firstbeat Life analyses are only available for participants who identify themselves on the basis of biological sex of female or male.
- Firstbeat Life analyses might be unreliable for participants with some health-related issues (e.g., pacemaker, heart transplantation, complex cardiac disease, persistent atrial fibrillation or flutter, or uncontrolled thyroid disease) and therefore measurements will not be performed for them as a part of this research.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Recovering From Work Through Nature Experiences - Heading to the Forest or a Virtual Forest?
The research examines employees' recovery from work stress during visits in nearby nature and when viewing virtual nature with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles. The research provides information on the physiological and psychological recovery of employees who do remote or hybrid work. Recovery is analysed with qualitative and quantitative methods including Firstbeat Life measurements, surveys and interviews. The results can be used in workplaces to develop operating models to promote well-being in remote and hybrid work. The research generates new understanding on how employees' recovery can be supported by means of virtual nature tourism services.
Read the detailed description
An intervention study with a cross-over research design will be conducted among a sample of 60 employees who do remote or hybrid work. The intervention phase lasts in total of four weeks. During the first week (control phase), the participants continue their daily routine as normal. During the second week of the intervention, a half of the participants are randomised to visit a nearby natural area after finishing work (exposure to nearby nature). The other half of the participants are randomised to view virtual nature videos with VR goggles after finishing work (exposure to virtual nature). On the third week of the intervention, the participants complete nature exposure the other way around. That is, those participants who took part first in exposure to nearby nature will view virtual nature, and vice versa. On the fourth week of the intervention, the participants take part in a semi-structured focus group interview.
Recovering from work in nearby nature and virtual nature is examined through multidisciplinary perspectives of health, well-being, and tourism. The aim of the research is to find new ways of promoting work stress recovery, psychological detachment and restoration among employees when they are making the transition between work time and personal time. These research findings are particularly relevant for fields in which there has been a growing trend for remote or hybrid work. This research is funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund (Project Number: 220076).
- Being tested
- Exposure to nearby nature, Exposure to virtual nature
- Keywords
- Recovery, Nature, Employees, Work stress, Occupational well-being, Virtual Reality
- Medical subject headings
- Occupational Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exposure to nearby natureBehavioural
Participants spend a minimum of 20 minutes in their favourite place in nearby nature.
Exposure to virtual natureBehavioural
Participants spend a minimum of 20 minutes watching virtual nature videos.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control, Then exposure to nearby nature, Then exposure to virtual nature | Experimental | During the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Receives: Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature; Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature |
| Control, Then exposure to virtual nature, Then exposure to nearby nature | Experimental | During the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Receives: Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature; Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Psychological recovery
Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ), the scores range from 1 to 5, a higher score refers to better psychological recovery.
Measured: Three weeks
Secondary outcomes (7)
Restorative experiences
Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS), the scores range from 1 to 7, a higher score refers to better restoration.
Measured: Three weeks
Work engagement
Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the scores range from 1 to 7, a higher score refers to higher work engagement.
Measured: Three weeks
Burnout
Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT), the scores range from 1 to 5, a higher score refers to higher burnout.
Measured: Three weeks
Stress recovery
A physiological measure of stress recovery balance, the scores range from 0 to 100, a higher score refers to better physiological stress recovery.
Measured: Three weeks
Sleep quality
A physiological measure of the restorative effect of sleep, the scores range from 0 to 100, a higher score refers to better recovery during sleep.
Measured: Three weeks
Relax-Stress Intensity
A physiological measure of the Relax-Stress Intensity (RSI), the scores range from -100 to 100, a higher score (+/- 100) refers to a stronger reaction.
Measured: Three weeks
Body resources
A physiological measure of body resources, the scores range from 0 to 100, a higher score refers to higher body resources.
Measured: Three weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Apr 2023
- Study start17 Jan 2023
- Primary completion8 Jun 2023
- Study completion16 Jun 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Physiological RecoveryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 57 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- JAMK University Of Applied Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Katriina Hyvönen, PhD, Principal investigator, JAMK University Of Applied Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05830656
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- JAMKUAS_Hybridnature
- Acronym
- HybridNature
- Status last verified
- Jul 2023
- First submitted
- 26 Jan 2023
- Last updated
- 6 Jul 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data from surveys and physiological measurements will be anonymised after the research and will be archived to the research data storage service (IDA). Anonymised data will open for reuse after the research finishes in 2024. The reuse of interview data will be restricted to suitable parts.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Jul 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Recovering From Work Through Nature Experiences - Heading to the Forest or a Virtual Forest?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05830656
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HybridNature / JAMKUAS_Hybridnature
- Keywords
- Recovery, Nature, Employees, Work stress, Occupational well-being, Virtual Reality
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 57 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- JAMK University Of Applied SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 Jan 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 Jun 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The research examines employees' recovery from work stress during visits in nearby nature and when viewing virtual nature with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles. The research provides information on the physiological and psychological recovery of employees who do remote or hybrid work. Recovery is analysed with qualitative and quantitative methods including Firstbeat Life measurements, surveys and interviews. The results can be used in workplaces to develop operating models to promote well-being in remote and hybrid work. The research generates new understanding on how employees' recovery can be supported by means of virtual nature tourism services.
Detailed description
An intervention study with a cross-over research design will be conducted among a sample of 60 employees who do remote or hybrid work. The intervention phase lasts in total of four weeks. During the first week (control phase), the participants continue their daily routine as normal. During the second week of the intervention, a half of the participants are randomised to visit a nearby natural area after finishing work (exposure to nearby nature). The other half of the participants are randomised to view virtual nature videos with VR goggles after finishing work (exposure to virtual nature). On the third week of the intervention, the participants complete nature exposure the other way around. That is, those participants who took part first in exposure to nearby nature will view virtual nature, and vice versa. On the fourth week of the intervention, the participants take part in a semi-structured focus group interview.
Recovering from work in nearby nature and virtual nature is examined through multidisciplinary perspectives of health, well-being, and tourism. The aim of the research is to find new ways of promoting work stress recovery, psychological detachment and restoration among employees when they are making the transition between work time and personal time. These research findings are particularly relevant for fields in which there has been a growing trend for remote or hybrid work. This research is funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund (Project Number: 220076).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control, Then exposure to nearby nature, Then exposure to virtual nature | Experimental | Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature, Behavioral: Exposure to virtual natureDuring the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). |
| Control, Then exposure to virtual nature, Then exposure to nearby nature | Experimental | Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature, Behavioral: Exposure to virtual natureDuring the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Employees who do remote or hybrid work
- Able to communicate adequately in Finnish in order to participate
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- No exclusion criteria for study participation.
- Firstbeat Life analyses are only available for participants who identify themselves on the basis of biological sex of female or male.
- Firstbeat Life analyses might be unreliable for participants with some health-related issues (e.g., pacemaker, heart transplantation, complex cardiac disease, persistent atrial fibrillation or flutter, or uncontrolled thyroid disease) and therefore measurements will not be performed for them as a part of this research.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure to nearby natureParticipants spend a minimum of 20 minutes in their favourite place in nearby nature. | Behavioural | Control, Then exposure to nearby nature, Then exposure to virtual nature, Control, Then exposure to virtual nature, Then exposure to nearby nature |
| Exposure to virtual natureParticipants spend a minimum of 20 minutes watching virtual nature videos. | Behavioural | Control, Then exposure to nearby nature, Then exposure to virtual nature, Control, Then exposure to virtual nature, Then exposure to nearby nature |
Primary outcome
Psychological recovery
Time frame: Three weeks
Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ), the scores range from 1 to 5, a higher score refers to better psychological recovery.
7 secondary outcomes
Restorative experiences
Time frame: Three weeks
Work engagement
Time frame: Three weeks
Burnout
Time frame: Three weeks
Stress recovery
Time frame: Three weeks
Sleep quality
Time frame: Three weeks
Relax-Stress Intensity
Time frame: Three weeks
Body resources
Time frame: Three weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Jul 2023.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data from surveys and physiological measurements will be anonymised after the research and will be archived to the research data storage service (IDA). Anonymised data will open for reuse after the research finishes in 2024. The reuse of interview data will be restricted to suitable parts.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Katriina Hyvönen, PhD principal investigator
JAMK University Of Applied Sciences
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exposure to nearby nature and Exposure to virtual nature in people with Physiological Recovery and Psychological Recovery, run by JAMK University Of Applied Sciences at 1 site in Finland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Jul 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Finland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Psychological recovery (time frame: Three weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Jul 2023.