The purpose of this research is to develop evaluation indicators for performance improvement of horticultural therapy garden. In order to achieve a therapeutic purpose, the gardening activity held by the trained horticultural therapist. Moreover, horticultural therapy is ‘a medical model’ for the treatment and basic premise of the research was set, as horticultural therapy garden is characterized area to support activities of patients and horticultural therapist functionally and efficiently.

The definitions and uses of terms of therapy and healing, which are generally used as synonyms in previous studies as well as the literature, were clearly stated by comparing academic and usual term usages. Also, based on the results, targets of the research were defined to be horticultural therapy garden of a healthcare facility with professional horticultural therapy. In cases of either the establishment of new garden or improvement of facility and management of already established horticultural therapy garden, the aim of the research was to deduct an objective evaluation indicator which maximizes the performance by improving the efficiency of horticultural therapy by enhancing the convenience of horticultural therapist and patient.

For this study, three times of Delphi and AHP techniques were proceeded to export panels who were recruited by purposive sampling. Through these techniques, it was possible to deduct the evaluation indicator which maximizes the performance of the horticultural therapy garden. The evaluation items were prioritized by typing and stratification of the indicator. The results and discussions were stated as followings.

Firstly, a questionnaire of experts was conducted to horticultural therapists and civil servants who were in charge of horticultural therapy. As results, civil servants gave 75.2% of positive and 6.4% of negative answers on recognition and necessity of horticultural therapy. On the other hand, horticultural therapists showed 87.8% of positive and only 1.1% of negative answers to the same questions. It is possible to conclude that both positions have the high recognition and agreed on the necessity of horticultural therapy.
Secondly, Delphi investigation was conducted three times in order to develop the evaluation indicator for performance evaluation. In the first analysis, open questionnaires on five criteria which are ‘interaction between nature and human’, ‘social interaction’, ‘universal design rule’, ‘Sustainable Environmental’, and ‘plan of a program’ proceeded to selected export panels including 51 of evaluation elements. After Delphi analysis, total 34 of evaluation elements to improve the performance of the horticultural therapy garden by reliability and validity analysis results.
The results of 3rd Delphi analysis showed more than 0.6 on every element, therefore, the reliability of evaluation elements was proven for the performance of the horticultural therapy garden. As results, there were sub-elements showing the highest average scores in the individual indicator which were ‘naturally harmonious planting and growing of various plants’ in terms of ‘interaction between nature and human’, ‘designing and planning of facility and traffic line for people with mobility aids’ in category of ‘social interaction’, and ‘application of protection law for social vulnerable class’ in the indicator of ‘universal design rule’, respectively.

Thirdly, AHP analysis of each evaluation indicator was conducted on the relative importance and weighting. Moreover, the results showed ‘interaction between nature and human’ as the most important element, and in order of ‘plan of the program’, ‘social interaction’, ‘sustainable environmental’, and ‘universal design rule’, respectively. On the other hand, the exports from the university and research institute evaluated the importance of ‘interaction between nature and human’, while horticultural therapists chose ‘plan of the program’ as the most important element.

Fourthly, the total weight was used to develop weight applied evaluation indicator for the performance evaluation of the horticultural therapy garden. The weight applying to evaluation index is generally calculated multiply the evaluation scores and the total weight using AHP analysis. Finally, ‘the evaluation indicator and evaluation score sheet for performance improvement of the horticultural therapy garden’ was finally stated based on the relative order of priority between evaluation indicators and analyzing the weight.

In AHP analysis results, the experts realized the most important item to be ‘interaction between nature and human’ (5.1) followed by ‘programs for recipients’ (5.0) in terms of ‘plan of program’, ‘accessibility of garden’ (4.9), ‘safety and comfortableness’ (4.7), and ‘support and interest’ (4.7) in consecutive order.

If it was deducted the improvement points for the efficiency of already established horticultural therapy garden using the ‘weight applied evaluation sheet’, it is possible to expand it by judging the importance with the decision of the priority because the item importance decided by experts was reflected. Moreover, in the condition of new garden establishment, it is expected to be helpful in suggesting ways for performance improvement and in setting the guidelines by understanding the major indicators of performance improvement in horticultural therapy activity.