Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RECETAS (Re-imagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces)
Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2022-08-31
Re-imagining Environments for Connection and Engagement: Testing Actions for Social Prescribing in Natural Spaces (RECETAS) addresses loneliness, a modifiable health condition that is known to shorten one's lifespan and may be as dangerous to one’s health as smoking or obesity. Loneliness knows no geographic, economic, cultural, and social boundaries and affects all age groups. For urban dwellers, nearby nature, with social structures, can improve health and mental well-being and reduce loneliness. Even under the extraordinary circumstances of COVID-19, people need time in nature for its healing benefits and its role in allowing people to interact in nature. Investments in nature-based solutions (NBS) and green infrastructure (GI) that address rapid urbanization and its adverse consequences on environmental systems in our cities, can be harnessed for health and well-being even in times of health emergencies. RECETAS explores loneliness through a transdisciplinary lens, integrating social, behavioural, health and natural sciences, and is grounded in participatory principles. It uses RCTs and other epidemiologic, anthropological and health economic methods to test socially- and culturally-innovative nature based social prescribing (NBSP) in six cities worldwide. The approach aims to improve upon real-world policy and practice to reduce loneliness by connecting people experiencing loneliness with helping professionals and extensive investments in NBS and GI, while alleviating pressures on stressed health care systems. If successful, it will systematically reduce loneliness, promote and sustain vibrant, socially-connected communities, and reduce health inequalities by connecting to nature in meaningful ways.
RECETAS’s objectives:
1: Understand the patterns and experience of loneliness and NBS/GI to address it in cities
2: Develop and assess novel, participative, viable, and cost-effective solutions
3: Amplify the implementation of novel solutions worldwide
RECETAS’s objectives:
1: Understand the patterns and experience of loneliness and NBS/GI to address it in cities
2: Develop and assess novel, participative, viable, and cost-effective solutions
3: Amplify the implementation of novel solutions worldwide
WP1:We have implemented structures to provide clear guidance and ample planning time to prepare and deliver key tasks. We completed an amendment adding a new project beneficiary, UVic, and the removal of AKETH beneficiary, due to 2021 business closure. We established a pub. policy and a pub. committee to develop and monitor the pub.-related communications and practices. We are working with the external advisory board to establish communication expectations and plans. We assumed leadership of the Urban Health Cluster in July 2022 and are taking a leadership role in WG6: Citizen Science. We are leading writing groups on the study protocol, logic model, and the systematic review of NBSP. We organised 2 annual meetings and monthly steering committee meetings.
WP2: VNL conducted a literature scan that outlined the current state and network understanding of NBSP practices, NBSP, and related policy. VNL conducted a social network analysis in each of the 6 sites to better understand how stakeholders within each of the cities are working to address mental health, well-being, through SP and nature-based activities. 253 organizations responded to the social network analysis survey across the 5 study sites, for a 63% response rate and 35% response rate when including Marseille. Marseille used a different approach for the survey, which reached more stakeholders with a lower response rate. These data were analysed separately given the different methodology.
WP3: Each Local Research Team (LRT) of pilot cities has been encouraged to deepen understanding of loneliness, SP, and NBS. Pilot cities drafted a report (diagnosis) re: the current state of the art in each context and explores previous experiences.
WP4 has been working on the definition of the study protocols for 3 RCTs and 3 pre-post studies, building on the assessments in WP3 via co-creation and feasibility studies. The protocols of the pilots and the main studies have been prepared to be submitted to the ethical committees. Moreover, the online training on the Circle of Friends methodology has been organised between May- September ‘22, which is core to the group-based intervention.
WP5: We have performed 2 sys. literature searches with the aim to 1) provide an overview of the economic evidence of using NBSP interventions for health improvement and 2) to provide an overview of decision-analytic modeling studies to support decision making related to NBSP and loneliness reduction. Further tasks (5.2-5.4) started and we prepared questionnaires for the feasibility studies to measure health and economic outcomes.
WP6: Developed communication and dissemination strategy for the project and its results. A visual identity, a communication kit and other communication materials (video, infographics...) were developed by the WP6 team. All partners actively contributed to the communication and dissemination activities with the aim of raising awareness about NbSP, mental health, loneliness and the project.
WP7: Engaged the Innovation Office at ISGlobal and drafted an IPR strategy that reflects the commercial potential of the project. We recruited 2 student interns to support the market and competitor analysis (Task 7.1) and to design the digital platform (Task 7.2). We have engaged 2 tech companies to explore opportunities for collaboration and 2 internationally recognised business schools through their respective digital innovation centres to gain expert knowledge re: mHealth, digital tech, commercialisation and exploitation.
WP8: Developed a comprehensive data management plan and a close working relationship with our external ethics advisor. We received ethical approval from the 3 RCTs, and are now waiting on approvals for the observational studies in Marseille and Melbourne.
WP2: VNL conducted a literature scan that outlined the current state and network understanding of NBSP practices, NBSP, and related policy. VNL conducted a social network analysis in each of the 6 sites to better understand how stakeholders within each of the cities are working to address mental health, well-being, through SP and nature-based activities. 253 organizations responded to the social network analysis survey across the 5 study sites, for a 63% response rate and 35% response rate when including Marseille. Marseille used a different approach for the survey, which reached more stakeholders with a lower response rate. These data were analysed separately given the different methodology.
WP3: Each Local Research Team (LRT) of pilot cities has been encouraged to deepen understanding of loneliness, SP, and NBS. Pilot cities drafted a report (diagnosis) re: the current state of the art in each context and explores previous experiences.
WP4 has been working on the definition of the study protocols for 3 RCTs and 3 pre-post studies, building on the assessments in WP3 via co-creation and feasibility studies. The protocols of the pilots and the main studies have been prepared to be submitted to the ethical committees. Moreover, the online training on the Circle of Friends methodology has been organised between May- September ‘22, which is core to the group-based intervention.
WP5: We have performed 2 sys. literature searches with the aim to 1) provide an overview of the economic evidence of using NBSP interventions for health improvement and 2) to provide an overview of decision-analytic modeling studies to support decision making related to NBSP and loneliness reduction. Further tasks (5.2-5.4) started and we prepared questionnaires for the feasibility studies to measure health and economic outcomes.
WP6: Developed communication and dissemination strategy for the project and its results. A visual identity, a communication kit and other communication materials (video, infographics...) were developed by the WP6 team. All partners actively contributed to the communication and dissemination activities with the aim of raising awareness about NbSP, mental health, loneliness and the project.
WP7: Engaged the Innovation Office at ISGlobal and drafted an IPR strategy that reflects the commercial potential of the project. We recruited 2 student interns to support the market and competitor analysis (Task 7.1) and to design the digital platform (Task 7.2). We have engaged 2 tech companies to explore opportunities for collaboration and 2 internationally recognised business schools through their respective digital innovation centres to gain expert knowledge re: mHealth, digital tech, commercialisation and exploitation.
WP8: Developed a comprehensive data management plan and a close working relationship with our external ethics advisor. We received ethical approval from the 3 RCTs, and are now waiting on approvals for the observational studies in Marseille and Melbourne.
WP2: 226 organizations responded to the WP2 social network analysis survey across the six study sites, for a 35% response rate.The data obtained through the social network analysis will be used to help inform the community building and intervention work of upcoming work packages that are part of the RECETAS research project.
WP3: The WP3 diagnosis report expects to raise awareness among the local population in each pilot city beyond the LRT. Relevant information will be shared and adjusted in face-to-face meetings with local actors to get a common understanding before moving towards a participatory diagnosis. With this shared basis among as diverse actors as possible, the menu for NBSP will be co-created. It results in pertinent and coherent proposals for each context and each target group.
WP4 expects to provide scientific evidence on effectiveness of NBSP on loneliness and wellbeing, complemented with knowledge on the lived experiences of participants and professionals involved, to impact social and health care practices and policies at local and international level.
WP 5: Both review studies showed limited evidence with an indication of favorable health and economic outcomes for implementing NBSP. The absence of comprehensive evidence on health economic outcomes emphasizes the need for our health economic analyses of the NBSP programmes implemented in RECETAS. WP6 created a bridge between SP/mental health/loneliness and GI/nature-based activities. It is expected that there will be a better understanding of NbSP by all and the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders in trials and intervention study to test and evaluate NbSP.
WP3: The WP3 diagnosis report expects to raise awareness among the local population in each pilot city beyond the LRT. Relevant information will be shared and adjusted in face-to-face meetings with local actors to get a common understanding before moving towards a participatory diagnosis. With this shared basis among as diverse actors as possible, the menu for NBSP will be co-created. It results in pertinent and coherent proposals for each context and each target group.
WP4 expects to provide scientific evidence on effectiveness of NBSP on loneliness and wellbeing, complemented with knowledge on the lived experiences of participants and professionals involved, to impact social and health care practices and policies at local and international level.
WP 5: Both review studies showed limited evidence with an indication of favorable health and economic outcomes for implementing NBSP. The absence of comprehensive evidence on health economic outcomes emphasizes the need for our health economic analyses of the NBSP programmes implemented in RECETAS. WP6 created a bridge between SP/mental health/loneliness and GI/nature-based activities. It is expected that there will be a better understanding of NbSP by all and the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders in trials and intervention study to test and evaluate NbSP.