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Aims and objectives To report on the stories of registered nurses and nurse administrators in a Thai hospital that recently constructed a healing haven environment called a 'Fairy Garden' to support the formal and informal activities of sick children. Background While there has been some research into healing environments in health for adults, there has been no qualitative research into healing environments such as natural gardens for children. Design Narrative inquiry was selected to capture the holistic notion of the participant's experience. Clandinin's narrative inquiry framework involving three dimensions sociality, space and temporality was used to analyse the data. Methods Eight nurses (including two head nurses, three ward nurses and three nurse administrators) were interviewed in three separate focus groups between November 2011-June 2012. Results Findings included storylines/threads of happiness, relaxation and calmness, imagination, spirituality and cooperation in reporting observed responses of sick children to the 'Fairy Garden'. Importantly, play was seen as a distractor from the children's pain and illness, with the children's ward no longer viewed as simply a clinical hospital site. Rather the opportunities that were afforded to children to interact with the 'Fairy Garden' environment expanded their hospital experience to include play, social interaction and educational activities. Conclusion The Nurses' stories capture numerous storylines and threads in which the 'Fairy Garden' becomes an environment beyond the constraints of the hospital ward. Storylines indicate increased acceptance and adherence to treatment as the 'Fairy Garden' opens up alternatives for children, especially those children long term in the hospital. Children exhibit behaviours that suggest the 'Fairy Garden' supports psycho-social and physical benefits that improve their hospital stay and provide potential for improved clinical outcomes. Relevance to clinical practice Designed hospital environments need to consider the addition of natural and activity spaces to support sick children and their families. Reports from nurses caring for children indicate benefits of the natural environment outside the clinical area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The double burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases (NCD) is an increasing trend in low- and-middle income developing countries. Rural and minority populations are underserved and likely to be affected severely by these burdens. Knowledge among young people could provide immunity to such diseases within a community in the long term. In this study we aimed to assess the knowledge of several highly prevalent NCDs (diabetes, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) and several highly incident communicable diseases (malaria and diarrheal diseases) among Karen high school students in a rural district in far northwest of Thailand. The aim of the study is to explore information for devising life-course health education that will be strategically based in schools., Method: A cross-sectional survey approved by the ethics committee of Boromarajonani College of Nursing Nakhon Lampang (BCNLP), Lampang, Thailand was conducted in Thasongyang, Tak province, from September 2011 to January 2012. Questionnaires for assessing knowledge regarding diabetes, hypertension, COPD, malaria, and diarrheal diseases were delivered to all 457 Karen high school students attending Thasongyang high school. A total of 371 students returned the questionnaires. Experts' validation and split-half reliability assessment was applied to the instrument., Results: Students' main sources of health information were their teachers (62%), health care workers (60%), television (59%), and parents (54%). Familial risk factors of diabetes and hypertension were not known to more than two thirds of the students. Except obesity and physical inactivity, lifestyle-related risk factors were also not known to the students. Though living in a malaria-endemic area, many of the Karen students had poor knowledge about preventive behaviors. Half of the students could not give a correct answer about the malaria and hygienic practice, which might normally be traditionally relayed messages., Conclusion: Health education and knowledge about common NCD and communicable diseases are yet to be prompted among the Karen students. A broader and more comprehensive school-based health education strategy for prevention of double burden diseases would benefit the rural minority population at the Thai-Myanmar border.