Original StudyEffects of Horticulture on Frail and Prefrail Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Section snippets
Methods
This study employed a randomized controlled trial design. The participants were randomly assigned into either the experimental (HT) or control (social activities) groups. The outcome variables were measured at 3 time points: at baseline (T0), immediately postintervention (T1), and in the 12th week postintervention (T2).
Results
Six hundred twenty-one residents were screened for eligibility in the 4 homes, and 111 eligible residents consented to take part in the study. They were randomly allocated into the HT group (n = 56) and control group (n = 55). The final mITT sample consisted of 46 and 50 subjects in the HT and control groups, respectively (Figure 2).
Discussion
A significant improvement in subjective happiness in the HT group over time was observed after controlling for baseline between-group differences (SHS and CCI scores). Significant changes were not observed in the rest of the outcome variables. The findings provide some preliminary support to the biophilia hypothesis. Horticultural therapy utilizes interactions with plants (living organisms) to promote people's psychosocial well-being. Apparently, the increase in happiness was not associated
Conclusion
HT was found to promote subjective happiness in this study's sample. Because frail older people tend to exhibit more severe symptoms of depression than most other segments of the population, this study therefore indicates that HT should be promoted as part of a program of activities for residents in long-term residential care. Nature-based activities are gaining popularity as a low-risk and enjoyable activity particularly beneficial for people who do not have the ability or opportunity to
Acknowledgments
This collaborative project was funded by the Pok Oi Hospital, Hong Kong SAR (PolyU: 5-ZH1B).
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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
This project was a collaborative research funded by the Pok Oi Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, PolyU no. 5-ZH1B.