Nature as Medicine: The case for prescribing outdoor time
Thank you to Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput, Senior Scientist at the CHEO Research Institute, for providing this post!
In a new commentary, entitled Nature as Medicine: The case for prescribing outdoor time published in Canadian Family Physician, the authors Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput and Dr. Mark Tremblay, Senior Scientists at the CHEO Research Institute, call for Canadian physicians to incorporate nature prescriptions into routine care to support physical activity, mental well-being, and healthier sleep while reducing sedentary time and screen use. Key actions include asking patients about outdoor time, recommending achievable goals such as 20-30 minutes outdoors on most days, and connecting patients with local resources through programs such as PaRx. In the article the authors also urge collaboration with community and municipal partners to ensure equitable access to safe, inclusive outdoor spaces, incorporate Indigenous perspectives, and evaluate how nature prescriptions can be implemented most effectively.
The full article can be found here!
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