Pilot Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial: Horticultural Therapy for Inpatient Older Adults in an Acute Care Hospital

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hospitalism; Frailty

Treatments: Other: Horticultural Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04654949

2019/00211

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of Horticultural Therapy (HT) on engagement, mood, and quality of life (QoL) of older adults in geriatric acute care in Singapore. Investigators will also assess the effectiveness of HT on mobility and hospitalisation experience. This pilot study could inform how HT can be implemented in geriatric acute care and its effect on hospitalisation experience and recovery of function.

Full description

Horticultural therapy (HT) is a non-pharmacological treatment utilizing plant-related activities as a form of alternative medicine to achieve specific goals that lead to person's well-being. Geriatric patients in acute care wards are at risk of functional decline related to acute illness and prolonged bed rest during hospitalization. HT can complement medical treatment to ameliorate the adverse effects of hospitalisation in older adults. There is evidence that HT can improve the physical and psychological well-being of the older adults in different settings. The beneficial effects of HT have mostly been documented in nursing homes, community rehabilitation facilities and senior activity centres, but not in geriatric acute care settings. There is also a need to harness available knowledge and implement it where appropriate. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of HT on engagement, mood, and quality of life (QoL) of older adults in geriatric acute care in Singapore. Investigators will also assess the effectiveness of HT on mobility and hospitalisation experience. This pilot study could inform how HT can be implemented in geriatric acute care and its effect on hospitalisation experience and recovery of function.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 70+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 70 years old and above
• an inpatient in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
• able to understand simple instructions (with abbreviated mental test's score of 6 and above)
• have stable vital signs - blood pressure, heart rate and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation - to take part in horticultural therapy activities

Exclusion criteria

• on contact or droplet precaution
• diagnosed with severe auditory-visual impairments
• have major depressive disorder
• have endocrine disorders
• on steroid-based medications such as asthma and allergies that might affect the salivary cortisol level
• on the Dangerously Ill List

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

80 participants in 2 patient groups

Horticultural Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

The Horticultural Therapy group receives 30 minutes of horticultural therapy activities using mobile horticulture kits conducted by therapists or therapy assistants to engage participants at their bedside.

Treatment:

Other: Horticultural Therapy

Existing Care

No Intervention group

Description:

The existing Care group receives 30 minutes of routine ward-based engagement leisure activities (e.g. watching television, reading newspapers, etc).