RESEARCH
The Effect of Horticultural Therapy on the Quality of Life of Palliative Care Patients
Summary
This document is a graduate research project in Occupational Therapy titled “The Effectiveness of Horticulture-Based Activities in Occupational Therapy Interventions”. It is presented as a systematic literature review aiming to determine the effectiveness of horticulture-based activities within occupational therapy interventions. The review analyzed seventeen articles pertaining to active engagement in horticulture-based activities that fit specific inclusion criteria. Horticulture-based activities are defined as active engagement in planting, tending, harvesting, and arranging plant materials, incorporating multiple senses. The historical context of using horticulture in rehabilitation settings, dating back to World War I and including use in mental hospitals, is mentioned. The authors also analyzed horticulture-based activities using the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process to understand how they fit into areas of occupation, client factors, performance skills, performance patterns, activity demands, and contexts and environments.
The review found evidence supporting the use of horticulture-based activities as an intervention across various populations, including individuals with physical disabilities (like stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis), developmental disabilities, mental illness, dementia, eating disorders, substance abuse, older adults, children, and those incarcerated. The effectiveness of horticulture-based activities was found to be strongest when applied to people with dementia or mental illness. Additionally, the social aspects of horticulture-based activities were found to be effective at improving functional independence in areas of occupations. The literature suggests various benefits, including physical (e.g., manual dexterity, strength, coordination, balance, exercise comparable to aerobic activity), emotional/mental (e.g., stress reduction, improved mood, self-expression, confidence, sense of purpose), social (e.g., expanding social networks, communication, cooperation, respect), and sensory benefits. The authors conclude that horticulture-based activities show promise as an effective, purposeful, occupation-based intervention.
