Virtual Zen Garden for Residents in Long-Term Care Home: A Feasibility Study

Aim: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial with virtual Zen garden compared to an activity control group. Design: This study was designed as a single blinded randomized controlled trial with repeated measure and convergent mixed methods design. Methods: Participants will be randomly allocated to receive virtual Zen garden intervention or activity control. Each participant will received bi-weekly session for 3 months. Quality of life and affect before, after and 3-month post-intervention will be measured. Semi-structured interview was conducted to supplement the findings. Results: Significant group-time-interaction effects were noted in QUALIDEM-C (F = 4.085, p = 0.011), care relationship (F=3.647, p=0.037), positive affect (F=0.3875, p 0.031), negative affect (F=7.840, p=0.002), social isolation (F=4.255, p=0.023), depression (F=13.714, p < 0.001) , anxiety (F=6.222, p=0.005) and pain (F=10.383, p < 0.001). There were only significant time effects found in social relations (F=4.455, p=0.020) and feeling at home (F=3.949, p=0.029). Conclusion: It is the first study to examine the feasibility of virtual Zen garden. The present mixed method approach on examining quality of life would also contribute to future studies in related field. Impact: This is the first study to test the feasibility of virtual Zen garden which would add value on current interventions for quality of life in long-term care home population. This study also contributes to evidences of quality of life in elders using mixed method approach. Public contribution: The study supports the feasibility of virtual Zen garden which transfers the therapeutic effect of garden intervention in a safe and efficacious way to long-term care home population.