Dataset Information

Effects of horticultural therapy on elderly' health: protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Due to a rapidly ageing population in the world, it is increasingly pertinent to promote successful ageing strategies which are cost-effective, easily accessible, and more likely to be acceptable to the elderly. Past research associates exposure to natural environments and horticultural therapy (HT) with positive psychological, social and physical health benefits. This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is designed to evaluate the efficacy of HT in promoting Asian elderly' mental health, cognitive functioning and physical health. METHODS/DESIGN:70 elderly participants aged 60 to 85 years old will be randomized to participate in either the active horticultural therapy group or be in the waitlist control. Sessions will be weekly for 12 weeks, and monthly for 3 months. Mental health will be assessed through self-reports of depressive and anxiety symptomatology, life satisfaction, social connectedness and psychological well-being, collaborated with immunological markers. Outcome measures of cognitive functioning and physical health include neuropsychological tests of cognitive function and basic health screening. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention. DISCUSSION:This RCT comprehensively investigates the efficacy of a non-invasive intervention, HT, in enhancing mental health, cognitive functioning and physical health. The results have tremendous potential for supporting future successful ageing programs and applicability to larger populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02495194 . Trial registration date: July 13, 2015. Retrospectively registered.

SUBMITTER: Chan HY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5576101 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Effects of horticultural therapy on elderly' health: protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Chan Hui Yu HY Ho Roger Chun-Man RC Mahendran Rathi R Ng Kheng Siang KS Tam Wilson Wai-San WW Rawtaer Iris I Tan Chay Hoon CH Larbi Anis A Feng Lei L Sia Angelia A Ng Maxel Kian-Wee MK Gan Goh Lee GL Kua Ee Heok EH

BMC geriatrics 20170829 1

<h4>Background</h4>Due to a rapidly ageing population in the world, it is increasingly pertinent to promote successful ageing strategies which are cost-effective, easily accessible, and more likely to be acceptable to the elderly. Past research associates exposure to natural environments and horticultural therapy (HT) with positive psychological, social and physical health benefits. This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is designed to evaluate the efficacy of HT in promoting Asian elderly' ment ...[more]

PMID: 28851276

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundOur goal is to improve psychosocial and spiritual care outcomes for elderly patients with cancer by optimizing an intervention focused on dignity conservation tasks such as settling relationships, sharing words of love, and preparing a legacy document. These tasks are central needs for elderly patients with cancer. Dignity therapy (DT) has clear feasibility but inconsistent efficacy. DT could be led by nurses or chaplains, the 2 disciplines within palliative care that may be most available to provide this intervention; however, it remains unclear how best it can work in real-life settings.ObjectiveWe propose a randomized clinical trial whose aims are to (1) compare groups receiving usual palliative care for elderly patients with cancer or usual palliative care with DT for effects on (a) patient outcomes (dignity impact, existential tasks, and cancer prognosis awareness); and (b) processes of delivering palliative spiritual care services (satisfaction and unmet spiritual needs); and (2) explore the influence of physical symptoms and spiritual distress on the outcome effects (dignity impact and existential tasks) of usual palliative care and nurse- or chaplain-led DT. We hypothesize that, controlling for pretest scores, each of the DT groups will have higher scores on the dignity impact and existential task measures than the usual care group; each of the DT groups will have better peaceful awareness and treatment preference more consistent with their cancer prognosis than the usual care group. We also hypothesize that physical symptoms and spiritual distress will significantly affect intervention effects.MethodsWe are conducting a 3-arm, pre- and posttest, randomized, controlled 4-step, stepped-wedge design to compare the effects of usual outpatient palliative care and usual outpatient palliative care along with either nurse- or chaplain-led DT on patient outcomes (dignity impact, existential tasks, and cancer prognosis awareness). We will include 560 elderly patients with cancer from 6 outpatient palliative care services across the United States. Using multilevel analysis with site, provider (nurse, chaplain), and time (step) included in the model, we will compare usual care and DT groups for effects on patient outcomes and spiritual care processes and determine the moderating effects of physical symptoms and spiritual distress.ResultsThe funding was obtained in 2016, with participant enrollment starting in 2017. Results are expected in 2021.ConclusionsThis rigorous trial of DT will constitute a landmark step in palliative care and spiritual health services research for elderly cancer patients.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03209440; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03209440.International registered report identifier (irrid)DERR1-10.2196/12213.

Project description:BackgroundGlobally, the demographic shift towards an aging population leads to significant challenges in healthcare systems, specifically due to an increasing incidence of multimorbidity resulting in polypharmacy among the elderly. Simultaneously, sleep disorders are a common complaint for elderly people. A treatment with pharmacological therapies often leads to side effects causing a high potential for dependency. Within this context, there is a high need to explore non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and music therapy, both individually and combined as a multimodal therapy, in the treatment of sleep disorders in individuals aged 70 years and older.MethodsWe conduct a confirmatory randomized controlled trial using a two-factorial study design. A total of n = 100 elderly people receive evidence-based standard care information for age-related sleep disorders. Beyond that, patients are randomly assigned into four groups of n = 25 each to receive acupuncture, receptive music therapy with a monochord, multimodal therapy with both acupuncture and music therapy, or no further therapy. The study's primary outcome measurement is the improvement in sleep quality as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (global score), at the end of intervention. Additionally, depression scores (Geriatric Depression Scale), health-related quality of life (Short-Form-Health Survey-12), neurovegetative activity measured via heart rate variability, and safety data are collected as secondary outcomes. Using a mixed-methods approach, a qualitative process evaluation will be conducted to complement the quantitative data.DiscussionThe study is ongoing and the last patient in is expected to be enrolled in April 2024. The results can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for sleep disorders among the elderly, contributing to a more personalized and holistic approach in geriatric healthcare.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00031886).

Project description:INTRODUCTION:Psoriasis vulgaris is a common skin disease characterized by persistent localized erythematous scaly plaques, typically on the elbows, knees, and scalp. It is an immune-abnormal disease that progresses slowly over a long period with frequent symptom recurrence. Current studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective therapy for psoriasis. However, the scientific evidence of the efficacy of auricular acupressure treatment for patients with psoriasis is still insufficient. Therefore, we designed a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the effect, safety, and cost-effectiveness of auricular acupressure in addition to medication in patients with psoriasis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS:This on-going study is a two-arm parallel, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial in which 180 participants with psoriasis will be recruited and then randomly allocated into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Equal randomization will be conducted using a computer-generated random allocation sequence. Participants in the intervention group will receive auricular acupressure treatment once per week for 4 weeks, and calcipotriol betamethasone ointment for topical use once daily for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group will receive only calcipotriol betamethasone ointment treatment once daily for 4 weeks. All patients will be followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is relapse rate. The secondary outcomes include time to relapse, rebound rate, time to new onset, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score improvement rate, body surface area affected, a visual analogue scale, and Dermatology Life Quality Index. Cost-effectiveness analysis will be carried out from a health and community care provider perspective. DISCUSSION:This multicenter randomized controlled trial will provide important clinical evidence for the effect and safety of auricular acupressure as a complementary therapy in patients with psoriasis. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-TRC-14004916 . Registered on 20 May 2014. This protocol is version 3.0 which was updated on 24 September 2016.

Dataset Information

Effects of horticultural therapy on elderly' health: protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Publications

Effects of horticultural therapy on elderly' health: protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets