Operationalizing a nature prescription program in a college health setting: a pilot study on facilitators, barriers, and implementation outcomes.

Authors

Adaeze I Okorie, Laura B Santacrose, Emily Dunuwila, Jennifer Austin, Catherine Thrasher-Carroll, Donald A Rakow

Published in

Journal of American college health : J of ACH. Pages 1-9. Sep 07, 2026. Epub Sep 07, 2026.

Abstract

Assess facilitators, barriers, and implementation outcomes (feasibility, adoption, acceptability, and penetration) of a college health center's (CHC) nature prescription (NRx) initiative among student-patients (SPs) and college health providers (CHPs).
Mixed-methods study analyzed monthly Electronic Health Record (EHR)-documented NRxs by eligible CHPs in one academic year. SP surveys measured: recall of NRxs; compliance; effects on concentration, stress, and mood. Semi-structured interviews with eligible CHPs assessed facilitators and barriers. Qualitative data were analyzed with inductive coding; quantitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS.
Documented NRxs increased by 784% from pilot to study period. 48% of eligible CHPs documented ≥1 nature prescription. Among SP NRx recipients: 52.7% remembered receiving NRx, 70% spent time in nature, and improvements were reported for mood (88.1%), stress (85.1%) and concentration (68.4%).
Implementing a NRx program within an integrated CHC was feasible and acceptable among medical and mental health CHPs and benefited SPs' mental health and well-being.

PMID:
42705848
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Sep 2026.

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