Implementation of a nurse-led forest therapy module into an interdisciplinary multimodal pain management program: feasibility of concept and recommendations for practice

Methods:
Following steps of development and implementation have been performed:
1. Development of criteria for selection of appropriate forest settings for patients with chronic pain and their special needs.
2. Conception of the module content based on nursing interventions.
3. Implementation and report of first experiences in practice.

Results:
To implement forest therapy in chronic pain treatment facilities different aspects have to be considered, particularly criteria to ensure patient safety.
Nursing interventions like “basal stimulation” are appropriate methods in this therapeutic context.
Most patients evaluate the forest module as beneficial as well as the pain nurses consider their interventions in the forest setting as enrichment of the multimodal pain management program.

Conclusions:
Implementing a nurse-led forest therapy module into an interdisciplinary multimodal pain management program can be highly recommended when considering different precautions and criteria. Further research is needed to estimate the clinical evidence of this forest module.