Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 65Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
ID06797804

Effectiveness of Technology-Assisted Horticultural Therapy Program on Heart Rate Variability, Stress, Depression, and Happiness Among Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities

Led by National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences · Updated on 2025-01-28

76

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

52 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore how technology-assisted horticultural therapy affects stress, depression, happiness, and heart rate variability among older adults living in long-term care facilities. It addresses gaps in current knowledge by focusing on the autonomic nervous system's role and seeks to combine traditional therapeutic practices with modern technology to improve well-being in the aging population. Participants will be assigned to either an experimental group receiving weekly 120-minute technology-assisted horticultural therapy sessions for 8 weeks or a control group receiving routine care without intervention. The study uses a cluster randomized controlled design with at least 38 participants in each group, ensuring balanced distribution and allowing comparison of effects over time. Throughout the 8-week study, data will be collected before, during, and after the intervention using surveys and objective heart rate measurements. Tools include the Mini-Mental State Examination, blood pressure monitoring, the Perceived Stress Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, WHO Well-Being Index, and a horticultural therapy evaluation form. Analysis will assess changes in heart rate variability, stress, depression, and happiness to inform future health promotion programs for older adults.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Effectiveness of Information Technology-Assisted Horticultural Therapy Program on Heart Rate Variability, Stress, Depression and Happiness Among Older Adults Resident in Long-Term Care Facilities

Who Can Participate

Age: 65Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Agree to participate in this study
  • Elderly persons aged 65 and above living in long-term care facilities
  • Have lived in long-term care facilities for at least three months
  • No gender restrictions
  • Able to communicate in Mandarin and Taiwanese and express opinions
  • Upper limbs can move freely without diseases causing hand tremors such as Parkinson's disease or hepatic encephalopathy
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Participated in gardening-related activities within one month before the study
  • Diagnosed with terminal illness or rapidly deteriorating health
  • Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, serious heart disease, dementia, or mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores indicating cognitive impairment below specified thresholds based on education level
  • Unable to participate due to severe speech, vision, or hearing impairment

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Duration - 8 weeks

Participants receive technology-assisted horticultural therapy sessions once a week, each lasting 120 minutes, over a total period of 8 weeks. Participants in the control group receive routine care without intervention.

Weekly visits for up to 8 weeks

Follow-up

Duration - Up to 8 weeks after treatment

Participants complete assessments of heart rate variability, stress, depression, happiness, and therapy efficacy at mid- and post-intervention time points.

2 visits (at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-intervention)

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences

Taipei, Taiwan

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

J

Jung Chia Hsieh, PhD

F

Feng Qiu Hu, BSN

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

SINGLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

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Published Research Related To This Trial

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Riccardo E Marioni, Mark Chatfield, Carol Brayne...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21896187

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Yvette I-Pei Tsai, Jeanie Beh, Charlotte Ganderton...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38438870

Impact of information technology supported serious leisure gardening on the wellbeing of older adults: The Turntable project.

István Vassányi, Benedek Szakonyi, Daniela Loi...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38159476

Indoor Nature Interventions for Health and Wellbeing of Older Adults in Residential Settings: A Systematic Review.

Nicola L Yeo, Lewis R Elliott, Alison Bethel...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30884495