Nature-based allied health: current practice, challenges and opportunities

Purpose To guide the effective use of nature-based approaches, we aimed to determine current practice, challenges and proposed solutions concerning the use of these approaches by allied health professionals (AHPs). We also investigated the signs, symptoms and conditions AHPs believe nature-based approaches may prevent and/or manage, as well as the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods Allied health professionals who used or wanted to use in nature-based approaches in Australia were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Qualitative data were analysed through inductive coding and categorisation, while descriptive statistics were reported for the quantitative data. Results Allied health professionals indicated that exposure to nature could prevent and/or manage a range of physical and mental health, social and developmental outcomes. Perceived challenges were identified, related to the patients/clients, AHPs themselves, and external factors. Recommended solutions included increasing education for AHPs and the general public, advancing more research, implementing changes to governance, and legitimisation of nature-based approaches as part of allied health practice. Conclusions Increasing awareness and evidence of the use of nature-based approaches among the AHPs and across sectors – particularly with policy, education, funding, and health management– will support their legitimacy and potential benefit a range of populations. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This work was supported by a School of Allied Health Science and Practice Research Support Grant, The University of Adelaide. Jessica Stanhope is supported with a Research Fellowship from the Ecological Health Network. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee gave ethical approval for this work (HREC-2021-174) I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors