Therapeutic Effects of Garden: Preference of Ill Children Towards Garden Over Ward in Malaysian Hospital Environment

Abstract

Rawatan dalam hospital kerap meluntur perasaan kanak-kanak dan menyebabkan kelakuan regresi dan tekanan emosi, seterusnya mengurangkan daya kognitif dan kekerapan keresahan, menangis, kebimbangan, dan tekanan darah tinggi. Apabila pesakit kanak-kanak berinteraksi di dalam laman terapi di Hospital Batu Pahat dan Hospital Segamat, kesan positif yang dihasilkan adalah pesakit lebih mengutamakan laman daripada wad. Ciri-ciri laman yang mendorong pesakit berkelakuan positif terhadap laman adalah bau yang nyaman, kesegaran udara, penuh dengan cahaya suria, alam lingkungan yang ceria, bunyi yang nyaman, pandangan yang ceria, kebebasan bermain, keadaan seperti di rumah, dan kepelbagaian aktiviti. Tiga aspek laman yang dapat mewujudkan ciri-ciri tersebut adalah: (1) tata atur laman yang sempurna dengan pelbagai zon untuk bermain, (2) laman mempunyai pelbagai rupa bentuk, dan (3) perkaitan dengan faktor-faktor iklim. Kata kunci: Laman terapi; pesakit kanak-kanak; kesihatan psikologi; pemulihan; keminatan Hospitalisation often erodes the feelings of toddlers and young children causing regressive behaviours and stress, which result in reduced cognitive performance, helplessness, restlessness, crying, anxiety, and elevated blood pressure. Having the ill children experiencing a garden setting at Batu Pahat Hospital and Segamat Hospital, they showed remarkable preferences and positive behaviours to the garden than the ward. The attributes of the garden that contribute to the positive responses include refreshing smell, fresh air, full with light, cheerful environment, pleasant sound, scenic view, open space, free to play, home feeling, and variety of activities. These attributes are attained because the garden possesses three factors: (1) proper site planning with several play zones, (2) diversity of garden character, and (3) contact with microclimatic factors. Key words: Therapeutic garden; ill children; psychological well being; recuperation; garden attributes