The Effects of a Horticultural Program based on Cox's Interaction Model on Ability for Daily Life and Depression in Older Patients with Mild Dementia / 재활간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study attempts to examine the effects of a horticultural program on activities of daily living (ADL) and depression among older patients with mild dementia. METHODS: This study adopted a quasi-experimental design-based nonequivalent control group pretest and posttest design, enrolling 30 older patients with mild dementia. The Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale was utilized, while the data was collected from the experimental group for 60 minutes, twice weekly for 6 weeks in 12 sessions. ADL and depression were assessed for both the experimental and the control group. Overall functions were assessed only for the experimental group. RESULTS: The experimental group showed improvement in physical function, cognitive function, as well as psychological, emotional function and social function following each session (p<.001). The horticulture program was effective in both ADL (Z²=5.65, p<.001) and depression (t=-5.24, p<.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, the horticultural therapy based on the Cox's interaction model had positive effects for older patients with mild dementia. Therefore, horticultural therapy may be commendably applied to older patients with mild dementia as a nursing intervention.