Exploring the benefits of therapeutic horticulture in patients in gynecologic oncology: A pilot study.

Abstract

e24038 Background: Women who are diagnosed with gynecologic cancer experience a significant level of distress and symptoms that impact their quality of life. Recently, there has been an emphasis on quality of life for oncology patients. Non-pharmacological interventions such as therapeutic horticulture (TH) have been linked with enriching individual lives. TH is defined as the engagement of a person in gardening and plant-based activities, facilitated by a professionally registered horticultural therapist, to achieve specific treatment goals. The purpose this study is two-fold: 1) to determine the impact of TH on quality of life and anxiety for gynecologic oncology patients and 2) to test the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a pilot TH program for this specific patient population. Methods: This was an IRB approved study. Individuals were recruited from the oncology clinic. Inclusion criteria included adult women, age 18 and over, who were diagnosed with gynecologic cancer. They were included in the study independent of what stage they were in their cancer treatment. The intervention included attending eight 1-hour group-based gardening sessions that were led by a professionally registered horticultural therapist at Wilmot Botanical Gardens. Self-report psychometric assessments were administered to assess anxiety and quality of life before and after the intervention. Results: Over one month, ten patients were interested in the study. Due to limitations in funding, only seven were able to partake in the study. Three participants were able to complete the study in its entirety by attending eight out of the twelve sessions. Four participants were unable to complete at least eight sessions due to scheduling conflicts: one completed seven sessions and three completed less than five sessions. Given that only three patients completed the intervention, quantitative measures are not included. In the focus group at the end of the study, the three participants described the TH as engaging and felt that they were more physically active and mentally at peace. They felt that the sessions brought camaraderie amongst each other regardless of the number of sessions attended. Conclusions: While our participant accrual was limited, the study was noted to be feasible and acceptable with the sessions being overall helpful for well-being. Given the results from this study, more funding has been established for recruiting a larger cohort in Fall of 2023.