Study Review of Horticultural Therapy As a Nursing Intervention

Kim, Boo Young; Kim, Jeong Sun

Abstract

The reference study was performed to investigate the nursing importance which was based a theoretical background related to horticultural therapy and to examine the possibility which horticultural therapy was applicable as a nursing intervention through analysis on a preceding study. The research subjects related to the areas of horticultural therapy which related as a nursing intervention, were psychological, physical, environmental, and psycho-social aspects. It is judged that the horticultural therapy is effective in treating depression, emotional disruption or anxiety. It seems to be also effective in increasing the muscular tension and, thereby, expanding the scope of joint movements. Such theories show that horticultural therapy may be a good alternative nursing means. Plants act to create a pleasant interior atmosphere by generating anion, controlling the temperature and humidity and purifying the air, and therefore, the horticultural therapy may be applied to clinic or environmental therapy. When horticultural therapy is used as a nursing intervention, patients' socio-psychological needs may be fulfilled. It has been found that horticultural therapy is instrumental in treating perceptive or emotional disruption, depression, loss of self-respect, disrupted everyday activities and social behaviors. In particular, horticultural therapy seems to be effective in managing chronic patients' crisis or improving life quality. Intervention method applied on a preceding study was activity therapy and scene therapy in the horticultural therapy The above findings suggest that the pro-environmental horticultural therapy is useful as a new paradigm of nursing or holistic nursing conducive to improvement of health. So, it is desirable to prove its effects by applying it in the clinic. In order to apply horticultural therapy as a nursing intervention, it will be necessary to educate nurses on principles and methods of horticultural therapy and encourage them to apply it in nursing and clinics. Moreover, it may well be necessary to develop landscape therapy as nursing intervention as well as a variety of horticultural therapy programs befitting the clinic conditions. On the other hand, we need to provide for some scientific ground for horticultural therapy through continued studies. In this regard, this study which focuses on patients' health improvement through change of environment. may well provide for a framework for such studies.