Virtual Horticultural Therapy: A Qualitative Study Capturing University Students’ Perspectives on Benefifits, Challenges and Future Issues

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively analyze and clarify the benefits, barriers, challenges, and identification of future issues of virtual horticultural therapy (HT) by surveying university students who have delivered virtual HT under the guidance of a horticultural therapy practitioner, also credentialed as an occupational therapist. This study adopted the methodology of qualitative research -Structure Construction Qualitative Research Method. Five university students were involved in the delivery of virtual HT sessions. Students completed a questionnaire after practicing virtual horticultural therapy. Simple tabulations were conducted for the questionnaire contents. For the free text written comment, Steps for Coding and Theorization (SCAT) were used for the data analysis. As a result, five benefits, four barriers and challenges, and nine suggestions for future delivery of virtual HT practice were extracted. Subsequent studies will investigate how to make this setting more adaptable to virtual delivery. In this unprecedented era of COVID-19 with many restrictions related to health, virtual HT can be an alternative means of delivering horticultural therapy.