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Flowering plants speed post-surgery recovery

 

December 29th, 2008

 

Contact with nature has long been suspected to increase positive

feelings, reduce stress, and provide distraction from the pain

associated with recovery from surgery. Now, research has confirmed the

beneficial effects of plants and flowers for patients recovering from

abdominal surgery.

 

A recent study by Seong-Hyun Park and Richard H. Mattson,

researchers from the Department of Horticulture, Recreation and

Forestry at Kansas State University, provides strong evidence that

contact with plants is directly beneficial to a hospital patient's

health. Using various medical and psychological measurements, the

study set out to evaluate if plants in hospital rooms have therapeutic

influences.

 

Studies show that when patients have great stress associated with

surgery, they typically experience more severe pain and a slower

recovery period. Some of these problems are treated through the use of

anesthetics and analgesics, but, if not properly administered, the

drugs can have side effects ranging from vomiting and headaches to

drug dependency or even fatality. It is therefore beneficial to

patients and care providers to develop approaches that improve the

overall patient experience but don't rely on pharmaceuticals.

 

The study, published in the October 2008 issue of HortTechnology,

was conducted on 90 patients recovering from an appendectomy. Patients

were randomly assigned to hospital rooms with or without plants during

their postoperative recovery periods. Data collected for the study

included information on the length of hospitalization, administration

of drugs for postoperative pain control, vital signs, ratings of pain

intensity, distress, fatigue and anxiety, and the patient's room

satisfaction questionnaire.

 

Patients with plants in their rooms had significantly fewer

intakes of pain medication, more positive physiological responses

(lower blood pressure and heart rate), less pain, anxiety, and

fatigue, and better overall positive and higher satisfaction with

their recovery rooms than their counterparts in the control group

without plants in their rooms.

 

An interesting note to this study-the majority of patients who

had plants in their rooms reported that the plants were the most

positive qualities of their rooms (93%), whereas patients without

plants in their rooms said that watching television was the most

favorable aspect of their rooms (91%).

 

The study suggests that potted plants offer the most benefit, as

opposed to cut flowers, because of their longevity. Nursing staff

reported that as patients recovered, they began to show interaction

with the plants, including watering, pruning, and moving them for a

better view or light. A number of studies have also shown that indoor

plants make air healthier and provide an optimum indoor environment by

increasing humidity, and reducing the quantity of mold spores and

airborne germs.

 

This nonpharmacological approach to recovery is good news for

patients, doctors, and insurers alike in terms of cost effectiveness

and medical benefits. The study provides strong evidence that contact

with plants is directly beneficial to patients' health, providing

meaningful therapeutic contact for patients recovering from painful

surgery.

 

The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS

HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/4/563 .

 

Source: American Society for Horticultural Science

http://www.physorg.com/news149776173.html