心靈花圃: 開發與評量3DVR園藝治療課程連結衰弱老人與植物之成效

Background: Early detection and appropriate intervention may increase the chances for successful recovery and aging postponement. Horticultural therapy is often used in health promotion for older adults. Through various gardening and planting related activities, their senses could be stimulated and physical functions could be activated further. However, horticultural therapy has some limits for “frail older adults.” For instance, it is hold as a group therapy, which is limited to the place and time, and not appropriate for all “frail older adults”. It also exists other problems regarding allergy-causing plants, punctures, and inadvertent ingestion. The application of 3DVR technology to construct a simulative horticultural environment could overcome the limitation of traditional horticultural therapy and promoted health of “frail older adults”. Objective: The study aimed to explore the effectiveness of 3DVR-based horticultural therapy program on frail older adults’ health. Method: 3DVR-based horticultural therapy program was developed based on the task-technology fit (TTF) theory. Frail older adults who met the criteria were invited to participate the study. A total of 106 older adults were recruited and assigned to either experimental (n = 59) or control (n = 47) groups. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding technology fit (variables of presence, interaction and involvement) and health impacts (depression, loneliness, perceived mattering, meaning in life, general health), all of which were collected data by a structured questionnaire. With regard to statistical analysis, descriptive statistics was used to present the distribution of the background information of participants, influencing factors for participation, health impacts. Pearson’s coefficients and Pair-t test was applied to carry out the inferential statistics. Results: The results of Pearson’s coefficients revealed that presence (r = 0.63, p < 0.001), interaction (r = 0.53, p < 0.001), involvement (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and intention to use VR (r = 0.42, p < 0.001 were significant associated with the use of VR. On the other hand, scores of depression, loneliness, perceived mattering, meaning in life, and general health of participants in the intervention group were significantly higher than those of counterparts in the control group after the intervention completion (all p < 0.001), suggesting that older adults in the intervention group had improvements. Conclusion: The study findings also supported that 3DVR-based horticultural therapy program had potential health impacts on depression, loneliness, perceived mattering, meaning in life and general health among frail older adults. The application and promotion of 3DVR courses in the future can be enhanced by the study.