병동형 호스피스 환자를 위한 원예요법의 개발 및 수면의 질과 면역기능에 미치는 효과

Abstract

Purpose: The study was done to examine the development and effects of horticulture therapy on quality of sleep and immune function in patients in hospice units. Methods: The participants in this study were hospice patients in D hospital in D city. Thirty hospice patients were assigned to the experimental group, thirty to the control group. Data were collected from April 29 to July 26, 2009. The horticulture therapy program consisted of indoor and outdoor horticultural activities. The horticulture therapy was conducted for 30 minutes, 6 times a week for 3 weeks (a total 18 times). Measures were quality of sleep, and immune function by serum T-cell, NK-cell count. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and t-test with SPSS/WIN 13.0 version. Results: Patients in the experimental group receiving horticulture therapy had a significant difference in changes in the quality of sleep compared to the control group. There were also a significant difference in changes in the immune function (serum T cell and serum NK cell) between the experimental group and control group. Conclusion: The study results indicate that horticulture therapy developed for hospice patients is an effective, palliative intervention program to improve the quality of sleep and immune function of hospice patients.