The Effectiveness of 3DVR Horticultural Therapy on Older Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Physical Health; Mental Health
• Interventions: Other: Three-dimensional Virtual Reality and Horticultural Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT04324203
• Lead Sponsor: National Taiwan Normal University

Brief Summary

This study intends to develop a 3DVR-based horticultural therapy intervention to explore the health effectiveness among older adults

Detailed Description

Background: Institutionalized older adults have limited ability to engage in horticultural activities that can promote their physical and mental health.

Objective: This study explored the effects of a combination of three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) and horticultural therapy (HT) on institutionalized older adults' physical and mental health.

Methods: The study applied a quasi-experimental design. A total of 106 older adults from two long-term care facilities were recruited and assigned to the experimental (n = 59) or control (n = 47) group. The experimental participants received a nine-week intervention. Both groups completed three assessments: at baseline, after the intervention, and two months later. The outcome variables included health status, meaning in life, perceived mattering, loneliness, and depression.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2019-02-25
• Study Completion: 2019-06-30
• Status Verified: 2020-03
• Study First Submitted: 2020-03-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-03-26
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-03-26
• Study First Posted: 2020-03-27
• Last Update Posted: 2020-03-27

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 106

Inclusion Criteria

• over 65 years old.
• being a long-term resident of the selected LTCF
• possessing the ability to understand verbal meanings
• being able to freely operate a joystick.

Exclusion Criteria

• a history of severe psychiatric conditions, dementia, significant visual or hearing impairment, and/or current severe illnesses such as stroke or Parkinson's disease.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental group	Three-dimensional Virtual Reality and Horticultural Therapy	Three-dimensional Virtual Reality and Horticultural Therapy

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Meaning in life.	Two months	The meaning in life questionnaire was adapted from the purpose in life (PIL) survey, and it consists of 9 Likert-type items. Each item is scored on a Likert-type scale from 1-5, with higher scores indicating a higher level of perceived meaning in life.
Perceived mattering	Two months	Perceived mattering was adapted from the General mattering Scale (GMS), and consisted of five items. Each item was scored on a Likert-type scale of 1(not at all) to 4(very much) with higher scores indicating a higher level of perceived mattering.
Depression	Two months	Using a Chinese version of the short-form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). The total raw score ranged from 0-15, with a higher score indicating a lower level of depression.
Health Status	Two months	To assess the health status of the elderly participants, we used the Chinese Health Scale (CHQ-12). This scale consists of 12 Likert-type items that are scored from 3 (not at all) to 0 (more than usual). The higher the score, the higher the level of general health.
Loneliness	Two months	The short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-6), which consists of six items, was used to measure loneliness. Each item was reversely scored on a Likert-type scale from 4 (never) to 1 (often), with higher scores indicating a lower level of perceived loneliness.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Taiwan Normal University,; 🇨🇳 Taipei, Taiwan