title: Positive health effects of the natural outdoor environment in typical populations in different regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE): a study programme protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growing evidence suggests that close contact with nature brings benefits to human health and well-being, but the proposed mechanisms are still not well understood and the associations with health remain uncertain. The Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor environment in Typical Populations in different regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project investigates the interconnections between natural outdoor environments and better human health and well-being.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The PHENOTYPE project explores the proposed underlying mechanisms at work (stress reduction/restorative function, physical activity, social interaction, exposure to environmental hazards) and examines the associations with health outcomes for different population groups. It implements conventional and new innovative high-tech methods to characterise the natural environment in terms of quality and quantity. Preventive as well as therapeutic effects of contact with the natural environment are being covered. PHENOTYPE further addresses implications for land-use planning and green space management. The main innovative part of the study is the evaluation of possible short-term and long-term associations of green space and health and the possible underlying mechanisms in four different countries (each with quite a different type of green space and a different use), using the same methodology, in one research programme. This type of holistic approach has not been undertaken before. Furthermore there are technological innovations such as the use of remote sensing and smartphones in the assessment of green space.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The project will produce a more robust evidence base on links between exposure to natural outdoor environment and human health and well-being, in addition to a better integration of human health needs into land-use planning and green space management in rural as well as urban areas.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuijsen
authors.forename: Hanneke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kruize
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gidlow
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrusaityte
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Antó
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Basagaña
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cirach
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dadvand
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danileviciute
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donaire-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jerrett
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julvez
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Kempen
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van Kamp
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triguero
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wendel-Vos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zufferey
authors.forename: Peter Jan
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van den Hazel
authors.forename: Roderick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grazuleviciene
mesh_terms: D004779:Environment Design; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005060:Europe; D006291:Health Policy; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008603:Mental Health; D009043:Motor Activity; D011634:Public Health; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: Blue space; Green space; Health; Physical activity; Well being
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