Exercise FITT-V during pregnancy: Association with birth outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exercise improves birth outcomes, but research into exercise dose-response effects is limited. METHODS: This study is a retrospective, secondary analysis of pooled data from three blinded, prospective, randomized controlled trials. Prenatal exercise frequency, intensity, type, time, and volume (FITT-V) were assessed in supervised sessions throughout pregnancy. Gestational age (GA), neonatal resting heart rate (rHR), morphometrics (body circumferences, weight-to-length and ponderal index) Apgar and reflex scores, and placental measures were obtained at birth. Stepwise regressions and Pearson correlations determined associations between FITT-V and birth outcomes. RESULTS: Prenatal exercise frequency reduces ponderal index (R2 = 0.15, F = 2.76, p = .05) and increased total number of reflexes present at birth (R2 = 0.24, F = 7.89, p < .001), while exercise intensity was related to greater gestational age and birth length (R2 = 0.08, F = 3.14; R2 = 0.12, F = 3.86, respectively; both p = .04); exercise weekly volume was associated with shorter hospital stay (R2 = 0.24, F = 4.73, p = .01). Furthermore, exercise type was associated with placenta size (R2 = 0.47, F = 3.51, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exercise is positively related to birth and placental outcomes in a dose-dependent manner.

Resistance training and inter-interindividual response differences on cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults: An ancillary meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Examine true inter-individual response differences (IIRD) as a result of resistance training on cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults. Data from a recent meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials representing 552 men and women (292 resistance training, 260 control) ≥ 60 years of age were included. The primary outcome was cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) in ml.kg-1.min-1. Using the inverse variance heterogeneity (IVhet) model, statistically significant treatment effect (resistance training minus control) increases in VO2max in ml.kg-1.min-1 were found (mean, 1.8, 95% CI, 0.4 to 3.3 ml.kg-1.min-1, p = 0.01; Q = 82.8, p < 0.001; I2 = 74.6%, 95% CI, 61.6 to 83.3%; τ2 =1.1). The 95% prediction interval (PI) was -0.8 to 4.5 ml.kg-1.min-1. However, no statistically significant IIRD was observed (mean, 0.6, 95% CI, -1.1 to 1.4 ml.kg-1.min-1; τ2 =1.5). The 95% PI was -1.8 to 2.0 ml.kg-1.min-1. In conclusion, while progressive resistance training may increase VO2max in ml.kg-1.min-1, a lack of true resistance-training-associated IIRD exist.

Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (Part I): Guidelines for Preparing the Review Protocol.

Comprehensive resources exist on how to plan a systematic review and meta-analysis. The objective of this article is to provide guidance to authors preparing their systematic review protocol in the fields of regional anesthesia and pain medicine. The focus is on systematic reviews of health care interventions, with or without an aggregate data meta-analysis. We describe and discuss elements of the systematic review methodology that review authors should prespecify, plan, and document in their protocol before commencing the review. Importantly, authors should explain their rationale for planning their systematic review and describe the PICO framework-participants (P), interventions (I), comparators (C), outcomes (O)-and related elements central to constructing their clinical question, framing an informative review title, determining the scope of the review, designing the search strategy, specifying the eligibility criteria, and identifying potential sources of heterogeneity. We highlight the importance of authors defining and prioritizing the primary outcome, defining eligibility criteria for selecting studies, and documenting sources of information and search strategies. The review protocol should also document methods used to evaluate risk of bias, quality (certainty) of the evidence, and heterogeneity of results. Furthermore, the authors should describe their plans for managing key data elements, the statistical construct used to estimate the intervention effect, methods of evidence synthesis and meta-analysis, and conditions when meta-analysis may not be possible, including the provision of practical solutions. Authors should provide enough detail in their protocol so that the readers could conduct the study themselves.

Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (Part II): Guidelines for Performing the Systematic Review.

In Part I of this series, we provide guidance for preparing a systematic review protocol. In this article, we highlight important steps and supplement with exemplars on conducting and reporting the results of a systematic review. We suggest how authors can manage protocol violations, multiplicity of outcomes and analyses, and heterogeneity. The quality (certainty) of the evidence and strength of recommendations should follow the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. It is our goal that Part II of this series provides valid guidance to authors and peer reviewers who conduct systematic reviews to adhere to important constructs of transparency, structure, reproducibility, and accountability. This will likely result in more rigorous systematic reviews being submitted for publication to the journals like Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine and Anesthesia & Analgesia .

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in regional anesthesia and pain medicine (Part II): guidelines for performing the systematic review.

In Part I of this series, we provide guidance for preparing a systematic review protocol. In this article, we highlight important steps and supplement with exemplars on conducting and reporting the results of a systematic review. We suggest how authors can manage protocol violations, multiplicity of outcomes and analyses, and heterogeneity. The quality (certainty) of the evidence and strength of recommendations should follow the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. It is our goal that Part II of this series provides valid guidance to authors and peer reviewers who conduct systematic reviews to adhere to important constructs of transparency, structure, reproducibility, and accountability. This will likely result in more rigorous systematic reviews being submitted for publication to the journals like Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine and Anesthesia & Analgesia.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in regional anesthesia and pain medicine (Part I): guidelines for preparing the review protocol.

Comprehensive resources exist on how to plan a systematic review and meta-analysis. The objective of this article is to provide guidance to authors preparing their systematic review protocol in the fields of regional anesthesia and pain medicine. The focus is on systematic reviews of healthcare interventions, with or without an aggregate data meta-analysis. We describe and discuss elements of the systematic review methodology that review authors should prespecify, plan, and document in their protocol before commencing the review. Importantly, authors should explain their rationale for planning their systematic review and describe the PICO framework-participants (P), interventions (I),comparators (C), outcomes (O)-and related elements central to constructing their clinical question, framing an informative review title, determining the scope of the review, designing the search strategy, specifying the eligibility criteria, and identifying potential sources of heterogeneity. We highlight the importance of authors defining and prioritizing the primary outcome, defining eligibility criteria for selecting studies, and documenting sources of information and search strategies. The review protocol should also document methods used to evaluate risk of bias, quality (certainty) of the evidence, and heterogeneity of results. Furthermore, the authors should describe their plans for managing key data elements, the statistical construct used to estimate the intervention effect, methods of evidence synthesis and meta-analysis, and conditions when meta-analysis may not be possible, including the provision of practical solutions. Authors should provide enough detail in their protocol so that the readers could conduct the study themselves.

Effects of resistance training on body weight and body composition in older adults: An inter-individual response difference meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Whether true inter-individual response differences (IIRD) occur as a result of resistance training on body weight and body composition in older adults with overweight and obesity is not known. To address this gap, data from a previous meta-analysis representing 587 men and women (333 resistance training, 254 control) ≥ 60 years of age nested in 15 randomized controlled trials of resistance training ≥ 8 weeks were included. Resistance training and control group change outcome standard deviations treated as point estimates for body weight and body composition (percent body fat, fat mass, body mass index in kg.m2, and lean body mass) were used to calculate true IIRD from each study. True IIRD as well as traditional pairwise comparisons were pooled using the inverse-variance (IVhet) model. Both 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals (PI) were calculated. While statistically significant improvements were found for body weight and all body composition outcomes (p < 0.05 for all), no statistically significant IIRD was observed for any of the outcomes (p > 0.05 for all) and all 95% PIs overlapped. Conclusions: While resistance training is associated with improvements in body weight and body composition in older adults, the lack of true IIRD suggests that factors other than training response variation (random variation, physiological responses associated with behavioral changes that are not the result of resistance training) are responsible for the observed variation in body weight and body composition.

Influence of Supervised Maternal Aerobic Exercise during Pregnancy on 1-Month-Old Neonatal Cardiac Function and Outflow: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to assess the effects of supervised, recommended levels of prenatal aerobic exercise on 1-month-old infant cardiac function. METHODS: Eligible pregnant women were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise group that participated in 150 min of supervised, moderate-intensity (40% to 59% V̇O 2peak , 12 to 14 on Borg rating of perceived exertion) aerobic exercise per week for 24 wk or more or a nonexercising group that consisted of 150 min·wk -1 of relaxation techniques. One-month-old infant echocardiogram was performed to assess infant cardiac function , including heart rate (HR), left-ventricular stroke volume, cardiac output, cardiac index, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and velocity time integral at the aortic valve. Pearson correlation analyses and linear regression models were performed. RESULTS: Prenatal aerobic exercise was negatively correlated with infant resting HR ( r = -0.311, P = 0.02). Similarly, when controlling for infant sex and activity state, exercise level/volume ( ß = -0.316; 95% CI, -0.029 to -0.002; P = 0.02) predicted resting infant HR ( R2 = 0.18, P = 0.02). In infants of overweight/obese women, infants of aerobic exercisers had increased fractional shortening ( P = 0.03). In addition, infant ventricular ejection fraction was correlated with maternal exercise attendance ( r = 0.418, P = 0.03) as well as a trend for exercise level ( r = 0.351, P = 0.08). Similarly, the only significant regression model for infants of overweight/obese women controls infant activity state ( ß = -0.444; 95% CI, -0.05 to -0.01; P = 0.006) and maternal exercise level ( ß = 0.492; 95% CI, 5.46-28.74; P = 0.01) predicting infant resting HR ( F = 5.79, R2 = 0.40, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate that women participating in exercise in the second and third trimesters of their pregnancy may have infants with increased cardiac function at 1 month of age. Importantly, the cardiac function effects were further augmented for infants born to overweight/obese women.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of interventions addressing caregiver distress and burden among cancer caregivers.

Objective: Informal caregivers (ICs) are vital to supportive cancer care and assisting cancer patients, but this caregiving burden is associated with significant distress. While addressing caregiving, it is important to explore if the caregivers are receiving care they need. Evaluating interventions that address burden and distress is integral to targeting ICs needs. This study evaluated interventions addressing IC burden and distress. Methods: Randomized control trials (RCT) assessing interventions for IC burden and distress and exploring supportive care as an adjunct to the intervention were included. Six electronic databases were searched in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines through October 2021. Effect sizes were estimated, and risk of bias was assessed. Results: Of 678 studies, 11 were included. Most ICs were spouses, females, and white. Interventions included educational programs, cognitive behavioral treatment, and a telephone support program. Five studies utilized behavioral theories and seven included supportive care. Pooled results showed no significant effect on reducing caregiver distress (ES, -0.26, p<0.001). Conclusions: Caring for the caregiver with interventions for reducing burden and distress are not efficacious. Innovative, well-designed, more pragmatic RCTs are needed. Innovation: This study exclusively focused on interventions and supportive care needs for reducing distress and burden among cancer ICs.

Representation of adults with rheumatoid arthritis in US-based randomized controlled exercise trials: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine the representation of adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) according to sex, race, and ethnicity in exercise randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in the USA. Exercise RCTs ≥ 4 weeks conducted in the USA in adults ≥ 18 years with RA were eligible. Studies were retrieved by searching six electronic databases, cross-referencing and searching a clinical trials registry. Dual, independent, study selection and data abstraction were conducted. The primary outcomes were the proportion of participants in each study according to sex as well as race/ethnicity. Results were pooled meta-analytically using the inverse-variance heterogeneity (IVhet) model after applying the double-arcsine transformation. Of the 1030 unique articles screened, five RCTs representing 353 participants with RA were included. The pooled participant prevalence was 83% (95% CI = 73 to 92%) for women and 17% (95% CI = 8 to 27%) for men, suggesting an over-representation of women and an under-representation of men by approximately 7.4% based on current prevalence US estimates for each. Qualitative examination for race and ethnicity demonstrated an under-representation of racial/ethnic minority groups. There is a lack of representation of men with RA in US-based randomized controlled exercise intervention studies. Additional US-based randomized controlled exercise trials, including greater inclusion and reporting of the racial/ethnic composition of participants, are also needed. Key Points • This systematic review with meta-analysis of US studies found an under-representation of men in randomized controlled trials examining the effects of exercise in those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). • Qualitative examination according to race/ethnicity found both a lack of reporting as well as under-representation of selected racial/ethnic minorities in US-based randomized controlled exercise studies among adults with RA. • This study highlights the need for additional US-based randomized controlled trials of exercise in adults with RA that better represent the RA population in the USA.

Maternal Aerobic Exercise, but Not Blood Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Concentrations, during Pregnancy Influence Infant Body Composition.

Although discrete maternal exercise and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation individually are beneficial for infant body composition, the effects of exercise and PUFA during pregnancy on infant body composition have not been studied. This study evaluated the body composition of infants born to women participating in a randomized control exercise intervention study. Participants were randomized to aerobic exercise (n = 25) or control (stretching and breathing) groups (n = 10). From 16 weeks of gestation until delivery, the groups met 3×/week. At 16 and 36 weeks of gestation, maternal blood was collected and analyzed for Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA). At 1 month postnatal, infant body composition was assessed via skinfolds (SFs) and circumferences. Data from 35 pregnant women and infants were analyzed via t-tests, correlations, and regression. In a per protocol analysis, infants born to aerobic exercisers exhibited lower SF thicknesses of triceps (p = 0.008), subscapular (p = 0.04), SF sum (p = 0.01), and body fat (BF) percentage (%) (p = 0.006) compared with controls. After controlling for 36-week DHA and EPA levels, exercise dose was determined to be a negative predictor for infant skinfolds of triceps (p = 0.001, r2 = 0.27), subscapular (p = 0.008, r2 = 0.19), SF sum (p = 0.001, r2 = 0.28), mid-upper arm circumference (p = 0.049, r2 = 0.11), and BF% (p = 0.001, r2 = 0.32). There were no significant findings for PUFAs and infant measures: during pregnancy, exercise dose, but not blood DHA or EPA levels, reduces infant adiposity.

The Bone Biomarker Response to an Acute Bout of Exercise: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Circulating biomarkers are often used to investigate the bone response to an acute bout of exercise, but heterogeneity in factors such as study design, quality, selected biomarkers, and exercise and participant characteristics render it difficult to synthesize and evaluate available evidence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of an acute exercise bout on bone biomarkers, along with the influence of potential moderators such as participant, exercise, and design characteristics, using a systematic review and meta-analytic approach. METHODS: The protocol was designed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines and prospectively published. Seven databases were systematically searched in accordance with predefined eligibility criteria. Bayesian three-level hierarchical meta-analysis models were used to explore the main effects of acute exercise on bone biomarkers, as well as potential moderating factors. Modelled effect sizes were interpreted according to three metrics, namely (1) evidence of an effect (defined by whether, or how much of, the credible interval [CrI] included zero); (b) the size of that effect (threshold values of 0.01, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 were used to describe effect sizes as very small, small, medium and large, respectively); and (c) the level of certainty in the estimated effect (defined using the GRADE framework). RESULTS: Pooling of outcomes across all designs and categories indicated that an acute bout of exercise increased bone resorption (ES0.5 0.10, 95% CrI 0.00-0.20) and formation (ES0.5 0.05, 95% CrI 0.01-0.08) markers but the effects were very small and highly variable. Furthermore, moderator analyses revealed the source of some of this variability and indicated that exercise type and impact loading influenced the bone resorptive response. A moderate increase in C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX-1) was observed in response to cycling (ES0.5 0.65, 95% CrI 0.20-0.99), with greater durations and more work leading to larger CTX-1 increases. CTX-1 response peaked within 15 min and 2 h after the exercise bout. Other exercise types did not influence CTX-1. Changes to all bone formation markers were very small and transient, with the very small increases returning to baseline within 15 min of exercise cessation. No major trends for bone formation markers were identified across any of the moderating categories investigated. Certainty of evidence in most outcomes was deemed to be low or very low. CONCLUSION: The large influence of an acute bout of prolonged cycling on the bone resorption marker CTX-1, alongside the lack of a response of any biomarker to resistance or high-impact exercise types, indicate that these biomarkers may be more useful at investigating potentially osteolytic aspects of exercise, and raises questions about their suitability to investigate the osteogenic potential of different exercise types, at least in the short term and in response to a single exercise bout. Certainty in all outcomes was low or very low, due to factors including risk of bias, lack of non-exercise controls, inconsistency, imprecision and small-study effects. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION AND PUBLICATION: This investigation was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework Registry ( https://osf.io/6f8dz ) and the full protocol underwent peer review prior to conducting the investigation.

Response variation as a result of tai chi on resting blood pressure in hypertensive adults: An aggregate data meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Determine if inter-individual response differences (IIRD) are present with respect to tai chi as a treatment for high blood pressure in adults with hypertension. METHODS: Using the aggregate data meta-analytic approach, seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) representing 503 hypertensive participants from a recent meta-analysis of tai chi on resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were included. Tai chi and control group change outcome standard deviations treated as point estimates for both resting SBP and DBP were used to calculate true IIRD from each study. The inverse variance heterogeneity (IVhet) model was used to pool results. RESULTS: Among adults with hypertension, statistically and clinically significant reductions in resting SBP (X‾, -8.68 mmHg, 95% CI, -9.55 to -7.81) and DBP (X‾, -4.42 mmHg, 95% CI, -5.71 to -3.13) were observed as an effect of practicing tai chi. In the same population, neither statistically nor clinically significant true IIRD was observed for resting SBP (X‾, -0.47 mmHg, 95% CI -5.13 to 5.08) while statistically, but not clinically significant differences were observed for resting DBP (X‾, 1.97 mmHg, 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.60). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that while reductions in resting SBP and DBP were observed, a search for potential moderators and mediators for tai-chi-associated changes in resting DBP but not SBP may be warranted. However, a need exists for additional well-designed RCTs, including those from other countries, before a greater level of certainty can be established.

Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents With Obesity: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in children and adolescents with obesity. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise ≥4 weeks in children and adolescents with obesity were included if one or more CVD risk factors were included as an outcome. Studies were retrieved by searching 7 electronic databases, cross-referencing, and expert review. Data were pooled using the inverse-variance heterogeneity (IVhet) model and strength of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) instrument. Thirty-nine studies representing 1548 participants (847 exercise, 701 control) met the inclusion criteria. Aerobic exercise improved 10 of 12 (83.3%) outcomes (P < .05 for all) while combined aerobic and strength training improved 5 of 8 (62.5%) outcomes (P < .05 for all). The strength of evidence ranged from "very low" to "moderate." It was concluded that aerobic exercise, as well as combined aerobic and strength training, is associated with improvements in multiple CVD risk factors among children and adolescents with obesity. However, the generally low strength of evidence suggests a need for future well-designed and conducted RCTs on the effects of exercise, especially strength training, in children and adolescents with obesity.

A systematic review with meta-analysis of parental interventions for human papillomavirus vaccine uptake.

OBJECTIVES: With the growing ability of pharmacists to vaccinate against HPV, this systematic review with meta-analysis examined the efficacy of interventions targeting parents of children and adolescents in the US to increase HPV vaccine uptake. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Medline was conducted from January 2006 to January 2022. STUDY SELECTION: We included parent-based randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the US that measured actual HPV vaccine initiation and completion from patients' medical records. DATA EXTRACTION: The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2) was used to assess studies for risk of bias, and the Michie and Prestwich Theory Coding Scheme will be used to assess the extent of theory use. Results were pooled using the inverse-variance heterogeneity model (IVhet). RESULTS: Of 770 studies, 13 were included for data extraction, and 12 were included in the meta-analysis. Parent-based interventions, when compared to controls, did not demonstrate a statistically significant increase in HPV vaccine initiation (OR = 1.24, 95% CI [0.86, 1.77]) or completion (OR = 1.23, 95% CI [0.78, 1.96]). However, sensitivity analysis suggested parent-based RCTs could improve HPV vaccine initiation (OR = 1.19, 95% CI [0.16, 1.22]) but not completion (OR = 1.25, 95% CI [0.86, 1.81]), after removing cluster RCTs. Reminders/recall interventions showed a significant increase in HPV vaccine initiation (OR = 1.19, 95% CI [0.16, 1.22]) and completion (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.04, 2.21]). Eight studies reported theory use in intervention development. No statistically significant differences were observed between atheoretical versus non-theory-based trials. CONCLUSION: Overall, parent-based interventions do not increase HPV vaccine uptake. Reminder and recall systems have the potential to improve HPV vaccine initiation and completion, and pharmacies can leverage these tools to improve vaccination. Behavioral theories and pharmacy-based HPV vaccination appear to be under-utilized.

Walking and resting blood pressure: An inter-individual response difference meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONS: While walking is associated with reductions in resting SBP and DBP, a lack of true IIRD exists, suggesting that factors other than training response variation (random variation, physiological responses associated with behavioral changes that are not the result of walking) are responsible for the observed variation in resting SBP and DBP.

Clinical relevance of Tai Chi on pain and physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis: An ancillary meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The clinical relevance of Tai Chi on pain, stiffness, and physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has not been established. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to address this gap. Eight randomized controlled trials from a recent meta-analysis representing 407 participants (216 Tai Chi, 191 control) in adults ≥18 years of age with KOA and included the assessment of pain, stiffness, and physical function using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were assessed. The inverse variance heterogeneity model (IVhet) was first used to pool standardized mean difference effect sizes (ES) for each outcome. Clinical relevance, i.e., number-needed-to treat (NNT) ≤10 and relative risk reduction (RRR) ≥25% was calculated across assumed controlled risks (ACR) ranging from 0.01 to 0.99. Statistically significant improvements were found for pain (ES, -0.75, 95% CI, -0.99, -0.51; Q = 8.9, p = 0.26; I2 = 21%), stiffness (ES, -0.70, 95% CI, -0.95, -0.46; Q = 9.6, p = 0.21; I2 = 27%), and physical function (ES, -0.91, 95% CI, -1.12, -0.70; Q = 7.2, p = 0.40; I2 = 3%). The intersection of results for a NNT ≤10 and RRR ≥25% yielded high evidence and clinically relevant improvements across a wide range of ACR for pain (0.15 to 0.88), stiffness (0.15 to 0.87), and physical function (0.13 to 0.97). These findings suggest that Tai Chi results in statistically significant as well as clinically important improvements in pain, stiffness, and physical function across a wide range of ACR in adults with KOA.

Context, classification and study methodologies in research into nature-based therapies: protocol for a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Nature provides an array of health benefits, and recent decades have seen a resurgence in nature-based interventions (NBI). While NBI have shown promise in addressing health needs, the wide variety of intervention approaches create difficulty in understanding the efficacy of NBI as a whole. This scoping review will (1) identify the different nomenclature used to define NBI, (2) describe the interventions used and the contexts in which they occurred and (3) describe the methodologies and measurement tools used in NBI studies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols Extension for Scoping Reviews, four databases will be searched (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global) as well as cross-referencing for published and unpublished (masters theses and dissertations) studies on NBI in humans. Eligible studies must employ intervention or observational designs, and an English-language abstract will be required. Database searches will occur from inception up to the date of the search. Animal-based therapies and virtual-reality therapies involving simulated nature will be excluded. Independent dual screening and data abstraction will be conducted. Results will be analysed qualitatively as well as with simple descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Since this is a scoping review of previously published summary data, ethical approval for this study is not needed. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This protocol has been registered with Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/mtzc8).