• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

Background and objective: People-nature experiences, which suggest that humans seek connections between nature and other forms of life, were presented by biologist E. O. Wilson in 1984. Biophilic design attributes support environments that can improve human connections to nature. A significant amount of literature on environmental psychology provides empirical evidence that nature benefits humans, and that practical landscape and built environments can be designed to link humans and nature (e.g., the 14 biophilic design patterns). To date, however, there has been no well-done research on reviewing the health benefits of biophilic design. Methods: The paper provides a narrative review on biophilic design and human health. The scope of this article is limited to biophilic-design books and peer-review articles related to "biophilic design," "evidence-based," "benefits," "health," rather than an attempt to identify universal issues with biophilia hypothesis. Results: A total of 45 papers were included in our review, which was related to the top five biophilic design patterns and design: the presence of natural images, the presence of plants, visual and non-visual connections to nature, and material connection with nature. These studies were related to physiology and psychology through direct or indirect connections with nature and experiences in space and place. Conclusion: This study presents two important comparisons of the empirical research on biophilic design and human health that can explain the relationship of people-nature experiences to biophilic design and human health and provides insights into related researches and recommendations for future application of our findings.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.475-484
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• 2020

Background and objective: Horticultural activity is one of the most basic elements of horticultural therapy, which brings about therapeutic effects for participants through various plant-related activities. The main objective of this study was to verify the results of previous research, which suggested six types of activities from the exploratory factor analysis. Methods: To meet the purpose of this study, a questionnaire was designed to determine the preferences for 6 types of the horticultural therapy activities. The survey was conducted on 703 people from March 7 to June 20, 2019. The data of 674 cases were used into the final analysis, excluding unreliable responses. Descriptive statistics, and reliability analysis were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25, and confirmatory factor analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Amos 21. Results: First, horticultural therapy activities were classified into 6 types from the exploratory factor analysis, as conducted in previous research. The confirmatory factor analysis provided that the fit of the final model was satisfactory with χ² = 1,300.590 (p < .001), RMR = .045, GFI = .876, RMSEA = .062, NFI = .914, TLI = .905, CFI = .914. Conclusion: This result revalidated that the mode with 6 types of horticultural therapy activities from previous research is appropriate criteria for the classification of horticultural activities. The model could be used to design more systematic horticultural therapy programs that meet the needs or circumstances of the subject, or that are suitable for necessary therapeutic intervention methods.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.305-320
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• 2020

Background and objective: The problem that follows the increase of dementia patients is the burden of caregivers caring for dementia patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of horticultural therapy programs improving the quality of life and reducing the depression and burden of caregivers of the elderly with dementia. Methods: In this study, 19 caregivers of the elderly with dementia were selected, and the experiment was conducted by dividing the control group (n=9) and the experimental group (n=10) by random distribution. The experimental group was given eight horticultural therapy programs twice a week for a total of 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the depression(CES-D), quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), and care burden scales. The evaluation results were verified at a 95% significance level using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: In the case of depression, the control group's score tended to increase, and the experimental group's score appeared to decrease, but it was not a statistically significant change. In the quality of life, the control group was not statistically significant, but scores decreased overall. On the other hand, in the experimental group, the general quality of life increased significantly from 11.60 to 14.20 points (p = .02), and the total quality of life increased to a marginally significant level from 61.59 points to 68.85 points (p = .059). In the post-test of the total care burden score, a marginally significant difference was found between the control group (94.44 points) and the experimental group (82.50 points; p = .079). Conclusion: This study confirmed the applicability to reduce the burden of caregiving and improve the deterioration of quality of life of the caregivers. In particular, the results will serve as an opportunity to confirm accessibility in a new way to support the caregiver of dementia patients by demonstrating the applicability of horticultural therapy at a time when problems such as the burden of supporting the caregiver are emerging as social problems.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.710-720
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• 2014

Movements of the upper and lower limb muscles during five common gardening tasks were analyzed by using electromyography (EMG). Twenty adults aged in their twenties (mean age, $24.8{\pm}2.4$ years) were recruited. On two separate occasions, subjects visited a garden plot to perform digging, raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing; all tasks were performed three times with 20 s intervals for each trial. To measure muscle activation during the five gardening tasks, surface EMG was used. Bipolar surface EMG electrodes were attached to eight upper limb muscles (bilateral anterior deltoid, biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris) or eight lower limb muscles (bilateral vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius) on both sides of the body, for a total of 16 muscles. During the five tasks, photographs were taken of movement phases using a digital video camera. The right flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis showed higher activation than the other upper and lower limb muscles measured during the tasks. All 16 upper and lower limb muscles were actively used only during digging. According to movement analysis of each activity, digging was classified into four movement phases, whereas raking, troweling, weeding, and hoeing each were divided into three movement phases. In each activity, there were high-impact phases in terms of muscle activation; the flexor carpi ulnaris and brachioradialis were identified as major muscles in each impact phase. This analysis may be used to generate biomechanical profiles of gardening tasks for practitioners when designing efficient gardening interventions for physical health or rehabilitation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.449-462
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• 2012

The objectives of this study were to measure the range of motion for joints and muscle activation of upper limb for flower arrangement tasks for physical rehabilitation and to test horticultural therapy programs using flower arrangement tasks for improving upper limb function of the patients with stroke. Major flower arrangement tasks were classified with eight tasks (cutting 1, thick stem; cutting 2, thin stem; fixing 1, long stem; fixing 2, short stem; rolling a leaf; bending 1, thick stem; bending 2, thin stem; and winding, using a wire) based on the occupational analysis. When eight male university students (mean age $24.1{\pm}2.5$ years) conducted the eight flower arrangement tasks, range of motion for joints and muscle activation of upper limb were measured by a 3D motion analyzer and electromyography, respectively. Based on the results of the range of motion and muscle activation of upper limb, horticultural therapy programs using flower arrangement tasks (total 33 sessions) for improving upper limb function of the patients with stroke was conducted at a rehabilitation hospital, Seoul, South Korea and then the range of motion, grip strength, and upper limb function of the patients were tested. Among the eight flower arrangement tasks, cutting 1, winding, and bending 1 induced the highest value for the range of motion in joints of shoulder, elbow, and wrist, respectively (P < 0.001). In terms of muscle activation, eight flower arrangement tasks performed in this study showed various patterns of muscle activation and several muscles were simultaneously used for each task (P < 0.001). In addition, thickness and length of the materials used in a task had a prominent effect on the range of motion for joints and muscle activation of upper limb (P < 0.001). The stroke patients had positive effects for their range of motion of upper limb (shoulder, forearm, and elbow), grip strength, and overall upper limb function through the horticultural therapy program. Thus, this study suggested that flower arrangement tasks would be a potential horticultural activity for physical rehabilitation program. It would be interesting to apply a customized horticultural therapy program using flower arrangement tasks according to the symptoms of patient for physical rehabilitation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.887-900
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• 2014

This study was conducted to provide a job analysis for, and assess the job performance of horticultural therapists, as well as examine future educational needs. To this end, a chart developed using the DACUM method was chosen as the appropriate tool for the job analysis of horticultural therapists (Study 1). Based on the chart, a survey using an evaluation form was produced to investigate the current level of job performance and future required level of horticultural therapists (Study 2). A total of 8 duties and 45 tasks were classified to examine job performance, based on analysis of the DACUM Council (Study 1). These duties include A. Decide execution organization for horticultural therapy (HT) program, B. Diagnose and assess clients before starting the HT program, C. Plan HT program, D. Develop HT program, E. Prepare to implement HT program for each session, F. Implement HT program for each session, G. Implement overall assessment for HT program, and H. Develop oneself as a horticultural therapist. Their duties were broken down further into five to eight tasks per duty, totaling 45 tasks. Based on the horticultural therapist job performance sheet developed through this process, an assessment of the current job level of horticultural therapists was performed and future required level were examined (Study 2). The evaluation forms were sent to 779 horticultural therapists with level 1 or 2 certification via email or mail delivery. The analysis of 242 questionnaires (31.1%) revealed that horticultural therapists with level 1 certificates have a significantly higher job performance level for 34 of the 45 tasks. Regarding future required level, 20 out of 45 tasks were assessed as higher for level 1 horticultural therapists than level 2. In addition, a Borich formula was utilized to identify the priority of educational needs for the 45 horticultural therapist tasks. The results revealed the following top three tasks: H1. Receive feedback from the supervisor for the horticultural therapy program; A1. Distribute promotional materials about the horticultural therapy program; and H2. Submit a grant proposal for horticultural therapy program to organizations such as welfare foundations. The results of this study are anticipated to facilitate understanding and improve work conditions for current horticultural therapists or horticultural therapists-in-training. In addition, institutions that train horticultural therapists will be able to use this as basic research to develop a practical training curriculum.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.586-595
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• 2012

This study was conducted to determine the effects of horticultural therapy (HT) program using hydroponics on work adjustment skills of students with mental retardation. Based on the critical role transitional model and special education curriculum for agriculture, especially hydroponics, HT program (total 22 sessions) using hydroponics procedure for Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. 'Asia Heuk Romaine') was developed. Fourteen (10 males, 4 females) graded $1^{st}$ to $2^{nd}$ with intellectual disabilities were recruited from a special education class in a high school located in Inchon, Korea and then a special farm for hydroponics in Inchon, Korea was offered for the HT program. The students with intellectual disabilities participated in the HT program for 4-month (from September to December of 2011, twice a week, approximately 60 minutes per session). Before and after the HT program, the McCarron assessment neuromuscular development, emotional behavioral checklist, interpersonal negotiation strategies, and KEPAD picture vocational interest test were performed by the teachers and horticultural therapists. As the results, the students significantly improved motor performance (p = 0.002), emotional behavioral strategies (p = 0.00), and interpersonal negotiation strategies (p = 0.05). However, no significant difference between before and after the HT program for vocational interest was observed. In conclusion, the HT program using hydroponics, consists of simple and easy tasks so that it would be applicable for the students with intellectual disabilities positively affected to work adjustment skills by improving the motor performance, emotional behavioral strategies, and interpersonal negotiation strategies. Additionally, HT programs using hydroponics with various kinds of vegetables are required to develop and to apply in practical settings for improving work adjustment skills.