Have you ever visited someone in the hospital recovering from surgery? Most hospital rooms seem to channel a similar trend – neutral colored walls, air conditioner powered to the max, and dim lighting; but while the hospital room itself may trigger a sense of lackluster, one item seems to stand out among the rest – flowers. In nearly every patient’s room, a fresh bouquet of flowers, given by family or friends, adorns the windowsill or tabletop and instantly transforms the dreary atmosphere into one of delight.

While society may associate giving flowers to someone in the hospital as a way of saying, “Get well soon,” we must beg the question – do flowers have any effect on the patients? According to research from the Department of Horticulture, Recreation and Forestry at Kansas State University, plants and flowers in hospital rooms may have more benefits than just brightening the room or letting someone know you are thinking of them in their time of need.

The study, led by Seong-Hyun Park and Richard H. Mattson, suggests that patient’s contact with plants is directly associated with their health. By studying patients recovering from abdominal surgery, researchers concluded that plants in hospitals rooms have many therapeutic influences, such as: fewer intakes of pain medication, lower blood pressure and heart rate, less pain, anxiety, and fatigue.

To execute the study, 90 patients recovering from an appendectomy were randomly assigned to rooms either with or without plants following their surgeries. As the patients recovered, data was collected that included the length of hospitalization, the amount of drugs administered for pain control, vital signs, ratings of pain intensity, fatigue and anxiety, and patient’s room satisfaction. The patients assigned to rooms containing plants had more positive effects associated with their recovery than patients in rooms with no plants. One of the most significant differences was that patients in rooms with plants had smaller intakes of pain medication, thus reducing their dependency on pharmaceuticals.

Researchers were also able to identify that potted plants, as opposed to cut flowers, provided the patient with the most benefits. Because potted plants have a longer life span than cut flowers, recovering patients can interact with the plant, such as watering, pruning, and relocating the plant to an area with better light.

With findings from this study, patients and doctors may have a nonpharmacological approach to a healthy recovery from surgery. So instead of ordering a bouquet of flowers from the florist for your loved one recovering from surgery, opt for a potted plant!

Discussion Question: How do you think that hospitals, patients, and insurance would benefit financially from placing plants in patient rooms?

Link to Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081229104700.htm

Link to Abstract: http://www.citeulike.org/group/5070/article/4301682