The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of horticultural activities on the quality of life for community psychiatric patients. The subjects were 30 clients who came from a community rehabilitation center in Taipei. The subjects were invited to join a three-hour therapeutic horticultural activity, once per week and persisting for twelve weeks. Quantitative data was collected before and after the activity through a health related quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF Taiwanese version). Semi-structured qualitative interview were taken at the end of the groups (after twelve-week treatment ended). The findings of quantitative data indicated: horticultural activities effectively improved the overall health related quality of life for community psychiatric patients (t=-2.83, p<.01). The ”physical health” and ”psychological” domains have statistical significantly improved (t=-2.67, p<.05; t=-3.51, p<.01); in ”social relationships” and ”environment” domains, the post-test scores were higher than pre-test scores, but did not reach statistically different level (t=-.13, p=.90; t=-1.63, p=.11). The qualitative data revealed that horticultural activities help patients to acquire knowledge and skills about horticulture, to maintain physical and mental well-being, to enhance awareness of environment and self growing, to increase familiar with the community, and have more opportunities. Therefore, as health care professionals work hard to enhance health related life quality of community psychiatric patients, we look forward to providing results of this study as reference.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of horticultural activities on the quality of life for community psychiatric patients. The subjects were 30 clients who came from a community rehabilitation center in Taipei. The subjects were invited to join a three-hour therapeutic horticultural activity, once per week and persisting for twelve weeks. Quantitative data was collected before and after the activity through a health related quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF Taiwanese version). Semi-structured qualitative interview were taken at the end of the groups (after twelve-week treatment ended). The findings of quantitative data indicated: horticultural activities effectively improved the overall health related quality of life for community psychiatric patients (t=-2.83, p<.01). The ”physical health” and ”psychological” domains have statistical significantly improved (t=-2.67, p<.05; t=-3.51, p<.01); in ”social relationships” and ”environment” domains, the post-test scores were higher than pre-test scores, but did not reach statistically different level (t=-.13, p=.90; t=-1.63, p=.11). The qualitative data revealed that horticultural activities help patients to acquire knowledge and skills about horticulture, to maintain physical and mental well-being, to enhance awareness of environment and self growing, to increase familiar with the community, and have more opportunities. Therefore, as health care professionals work hard to enhance health related life quality of community psychiatric patients, we look forward to providing results of this study as reference.