How do older people describe their sensory experiences of the natural world? A systematic review of the qualitative evidence

BMC Geriatrics

Research Article

Noreen Orr¹  Ruth Garside¹  Simon Briscoe²  Alexandra Wagstaffe³ 

[1] European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Knowledge Spa, Truro, UK;PenCLAHRC, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK;The Sensory Trust, c/o Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, UK;

关键词: Nature;    Qualitative;    Sensory;    Older people;    Environment;    Outdoors;    Systematic review;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-016-0288-0

 received in 2016-01-22, accepted in 2016-05-23,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDespite the increased scholarly interest in the senses and sensory experiences, the topic of older people’s sensory engagement with nature is currently under researched. This paper reviews and synthesises qualitative research evidence about how older people, including those living with dementia, describe their sensory engagement with the natural world.MethodsTen databases were searched from 1990 to September 2014: MEDLINE (Ovid), MEDLINE-in-Process (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), GreenFILE (EBSCO), ProQuest Sociology, ASSIA (ProQuest), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (ProQuest); HMIC (Ovid); Social Policy and Practice (Ovid). Forward and backward citation chasing of included articles was conducted; 20 organizations were contacted to identify unpublished reports. Screening was undertaken independently by two reviewers.ResultsTwenty seven studies were included. Thematic analysis revealed that descriptions of sensory experiences are encompassed within six themes: descriptions from ‘the window’; sensory descriptions that emphasise vision; descriptions of ‘being in nature’; descriptions of ‘doing in nature’; barriers to sensory engagement; and meanings of being and doing in nature.ConclusionsOlder people derive considerable pleasure and enjoyment from viewing nature, being and doing in nature which, in turn has a positive impact on their wellbeing and quality of life. Future research could usefully explore how sensory engagement with nature could be used to stimulate reminiscences of places and people, and evoke past sensory experiences to enrich everyday life and maintain a sense of self.The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015020736).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016