RESEARCH
Connecting College Students with Nature: An Evaluation Indicator System for the Implementation of Horticultural Therapy Programmes on University Campuses
Summary
This study aimed to create a way to measure how well horticultural therapy programs are working on university campuses in China. Horticultural therapy uses gardening and plants to improve students’ health and well-being. While many studies look at the benefits of these programs, this research focuses on how to make them sustainable. The researchers combined two methods: the Delphi method (asking experts for their opinions) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) (weighing different factors based on their importance). They asked experts to select and revise important factors and used both expert and student opinions to rank these factors.
The research resulted in a system with four main areas and twelve specific factors for evaluating horticultural therapy programs. These areas are: the horticultural therapy team, the horticultural therapy plan, the natural environment, and how the program is maintained. The study found that having a good therapy plan was the most important, followed by the natural environment. This evaluation system can help guide universities in China to create and maintain effective horticultural therapy programs, promoting student health and a better study environment.
