Purpose   The purpose of this study was to determine the relaxing effects of a hospital rooftop forest on healthcare workers and to assess the influence of trait anxiety. Methods   Sixteen male workers (aged 37.1±10.6years, mean±SD) and 56 female workers (aged 43.5±11.2years) participated in this study. Females were divided into 32low-to medium-anxiety and high-anxiety groups according to their trait anxiety as per the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form JYZ (STAI-Form JYZ). The experimental site was a rooftop forest, which covered an area of 122 m2, on the fourth storey of a health service facility. An outdoor car park area of 170m2, near the same facility, was used as a control. All participants were assessed individually at 3 sites: pre-room, rooftop forest, and outdoor car park area. Participants sat still in a wheelchair and viewed the scenery for 5minutes in each experimental area. The subjective effect was analyzed using the state anxiety as per the STAI-Form JYZ and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). The data between the rooftop forest and the control was compared within each participant. The participants were also divided into sex- and age-matched groups: A and B. Group A moved to the rooftop forest from the pre-room and group B first moved to the control area to eliminate the order effect. Results and Discussion   After viewing the rooftop forest, the mean values of state anxiety as per the STAY-Form JYZ showed a significant (p<0.01) decrease to 34.6±8.1 (43.4±8.4for control) in males and to 36.3±10.2 (45.8±8.8) in females. In low- to medium-anxiety females, state anxiety significantly (p<0.01) decreased to a“very low”anxiety state (“low” for control), and in high-anxiety females, it significantly (p<0.01) decreased to a “low” anxiety state (“intermediate” for control). As per the T-score of POMS, in males, “Fatigue” significantly (p<0.01) decreased to 39.0±7.5 (41.1±7.0) and “Vigor” significantly (p<0.01) increased to 43.3±10.4 (37.9±8.1). In females, “Tension-Anxiety” significantly (p<0.01) decreased to 39.7±7.7 (43.7±8.8), “Depression-Dejection” significantly (p<0.01) decreased to 43.5±6.3 (45.4±7.6), “Fatigue” significantly (p<0.01) decreased to 40.7±7.3 (43.6±8.5), and “Vigor” significantly (p<0.01) increased to 46.2±10.8 (38.9±8.0). After viewing the rooftop forest, the “iceberg profile” observed in the visual pattern of low- to medium-anxiety females indicated positive feelings. The “negative wing” indicating negative feelings observed in high-anxiety females in the pre-room disappeared after viewing the rooftop forest. Conclusion   We demonstrated that a short exposure to a rooftop forest environment induces a significant subjective relaxation effect in healthcare workers and that this effect is influenced by individual trait anxiety.

Purpose
  The purpose of this study is to clarify the impressions that elderly people requiring care have when exposed to a “rooftop forest-like field.”
Methods
Experimental sites : (1) The rooftop forest-like area: It covers an area of 122 m² on the 3rd story rooftop of a health service facility. It has 140 cm undulations, and a murmuring stream 7 m long and 58 cm deep flowing through the center. Fifty-one species of trees and 33 species of weeds, herbs, and grasses have been planted. Nearby is a mountain from which some birds come to the area. This mountain formed the background to this landscape. (2) The outdoor parking area: Control area was an area of 170 m² next to the same facility. Cars were prevented from entering during the study.
Subjects:The subjects were 30 females aged from 71 to 95 (mean ± SD: 81.7 ± 5.6). They were residents of the facility or attended to the facility for day care. They were divided into two groups, A and B, consisting of 15 females each. The groups were matched for age and cerebral vascular disorders (CVD). No patients with dementia were included. Experimental design : On the first day of The experiment, group A was sent to the rooftop forest-like area, and group B was sent to the open-air parking area. On the second day, each group went to the other area to eliminate the order effect. The subjective impression was measured using the semantic differential (SD) method. Patients sat still in a wheelchair and watched the scenery for 7 minutes and then answered the questionnaire.
Results and Discussion
  The rooftop forest-like field was perceived as a “beautiful,” “refreshing,” “orderly,” “enjoyable,” “comfortable” “secure,” “healthy,” “calm,” “soothing,” “friendly,” “quiet,” and a “holy” area. It was similar to the impression made by natural coniferous forests or natural rice fields. More than 80% of subjects expressed subjective relaxed state, as “most enjoyable,” “most comfortable,” and “most secure” as their impressions of the rooftop forest-like area. The impression of rooftop forest like area was characterized by high scores for both space and sensory factors using the SD method. Compared with previous reports, this forest-like area may have a relaxing effect on elderly people requiring care which is subjectively perceived.
Conclusion
  It was demonstrated that the rooftop forest-like field was perceived as a “comfortable”, “healthy”, and “relaxing” space by elderly people requiring care.