Effects of a Combination of Three-Dimensional Virtual Reality and Hands-on Horticultural Therapy on Institutionalized Older Adults’ Physical and Mental Health: Quasi-Experimental Design (Preprint)

Abstract

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. RESULTS The experimental group improved significantly compared to the control group in terms of health status, meaning in life, perceived mattering, depression, and loneliness immediately after the intervention, and these effects persisted for up to two months (all outcome variables, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study verified the beneficial effects of a combination of 3D VR and hands-on HT on older adults’ health. These results could support the future successful implementation of similar programs for institutionalized older adults on a larger scale. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04324203, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04324203