Therapeutic Horticulture: Influencing Psychological Responses of Surgical Patients and Their Environmental Assessment Scale

Abstract

Therapeutic impact of foliage plants and flower arrangements were evaluated on the post-operative recovery of surgical patients in hospital wards. A total of 270 surgical patients were randomly assigned to two hospital wards with plants and without plants representing ward A and ward B, respectively, making a lot of one hundred and thirty five patients in each comparing ward. Data collected includes parameters for evaluating patients' physiological status, intake of postoperative analgesics, Environmental Assessment Scale, Patient's personal preferences for plants and flowers. More effective health signs were observed for patients admitted in the ward A than those in the ward B. Patients admitted in ward A had significantly fewer (30%) consumption of strong postoperative analgesic in comparison to ward B (40%) due to more normal psychological and cognitive responses. More Patients in plant group experienced mild intensity of pain (41.5%), anxiety (41.5%), fatigue (49.6%) as compared to patients in ward B, who experienced severe level of pain, anxiety and fatigue. Patients in ward A were observed with an elevated mood and were socially more active and friendly towards other patients and nursing staff, expressing more positive feelings and describe ward atmosphere more calming, soothing and satisfying in contrast to patients in control group i.e., ward B. Additionally, most of the patients (45%) in ward A preferred cut flowers, especially red color roses over the green and variegated foliage plants. Furthermore, small group discussion and focal interviews with nurses and doctors affirm that arrangement of plants and flowers in hospitals is an effective, inexpensive and more productive complementary approach in medical field for surgical patients.

The hospital designed by hospitalized children and adolescents

“…Outdoor spaces, with different types of vegetation and leisure area, can promote well-being (15,33) , as they favor new friendships, socialization and subjectivity between hospitalized people and the health team. Thus, these spaces can mitigate the adverse effects of hospitalization (36) .…”