3.2 Vaasa Central Hospital

Eating Disorders Outpatient clinic (Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia)

The Eating disorder clinic provides special healthcare by a multi-professional team. They offer both intensive periods and outpatient visits for eating disorder patients. New patients need medical referral from health centre, occupational health or private reception. Incoming referrals are processed at the outpatient team meeting. Patients come to examination period when care begins, and at the end of the period we agree on the continued care and make a care plan. Care methods include support in eating situations, individual and group therapy, couples and family therapy, visits to the nutritional therapist, the doctor's appointments, art therapy and physiotherapy.

Aim

To support care, reduce anxiety (for example at mealtimes) and increase the well-being of the patients with eating disorder, and to activate them to seek out nature even after the treatment period. To promote care personnel’s well-being, recovery and stress-management during and after work shifts.

Participants and interventions with follow-up

• Patients with eating disorder
• Care personnel in Eating Disorders Outpatient clinic 
  
  
• Equipment: VR headsets, adjustable recliner, grass-like carpet, a fan for wind effects, special pillows
• Multisensory interventions: tactile sensations are possible

Methods used in assessing the effects:

• Stress-energy survey, interviews, head and eye movement via VR headsets, client impact evaluation made by the staff

Results and findings

Based on the project's experience, virtual nature interventions with VR headsets and high quality natural environments can support care and increase the well-being of the patients with eating disorder. The patients have found wearing the glasses comfortable, but some of them felt like moving around more than I was 'allowed' to. Virtual nature interventions can also promote care personnel’s well-being, recovery and stress-management during and after work shifts. The respondents have felt more relaxed, some of them even to the point of falling asleep after the work shift. Virtual natural environments have reminded of previous positive experiences and have enabled the feeling of “being away” by visiting their favorite natural environments virtually.

Based on feedback from both staff and patients, the quality of the virtual nature environments was considered to be very high. The conditions and layout of the studio room have also been designed to ensure that the intervention can be carried out with minimal disruption and in the most optimal manner. Due to restrictions related to eating disorders, the addition of scents or flavors is not recommended for interventions, but other elements such as wind effects and temperature can be incorporated into suitable landscapes.

Manuscript

Niemi, M., Pálsdóttir, A. M., Bohlin, E., Dolling, A. & Slunga Järvholm, L. The effects of virtual nature interventions for clients and care providers in disability services and psychiatric care. Manuscript in preparation for scientific publication 2026.

Summary presentation (from Vaasa conference, dec. 2025)

Virtual nature interventions at Eating Disorders Outpatient clinic in Vaasa central hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, Finland 
- Martta Niemi