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A Pilot Study of Creative Arts Interventions for Neurology Inpatients

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Migraine
Epilepsy
Interventions
Other: Art Intervention
Registration Number
NCT03520777
Lead Sponsor
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to assess the feasibility of a Creative Artists Program intervention with epilepsy and headache patients admitted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for care by the Department of Neurology.

Detailed Description

Qualifying patients admitted to Epilepsy monitoring or Headache treatment will be approached for participation in the study. Patients who consent to the study will be given a chance to work with one of three creative artists (visual artist, creative writer, therapeutic musician). The artist will be selected according to a pre-determined schedule, and the arts intervention may last up to 90 minutes. Subjects will be asked to complete study questionnaires before and after the arts intervention.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
33
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Age > or = 18 years
  2. Diagnosis of refractory chronic epilepsy, status migrainosus, or chronic daily headache
  3. Elective admission to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Epilepsy monitoring unit or Headache service
  4. Capable of giving informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Active psychiatric illness that prohibits safe visitation by artists
  2. Impairment of vision or hearing that would prohibit able to participate with participation in instructions necessary for the interventions.
  3. Active general medical condition that would impair consciousness.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Artist InterventionArt InterventionOne of the three artists (visual artist, music therapist, creative writer) will work with subjects for up to 90 minutes.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Feasibility of conducting a creative arts intervention studyThrough study completion, approximately 1 year

The feasibility of the creative intervention will be determined by the completion rates of the initial intervention attempts. If less than 50% of patients complete the intervention it will be deemed unfeasible in the current format.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in patient anxiety before and after the interventionEach patient will be assessed at baseline (Day 1) and after the intervention (approximately Day 3 - 21).

Change in anxiety level will be calculated, based on patient questionnaire responses, following the creative intervention.

Change in patient distress before and after the interventionEach patient will be assessed at baseline (Day 1) and after the intervention (approximately Day 3 - 21).

Change in distress level will be calculated, based on patient questionnaire responses, following the creative intervention.

Length of hospital stayEach patient's admission duration (approximately 3 - 21 Days).

Length of hospital stay will be calculated.

Change in frequency of as-needed pain medication useEach patient as-needed medication use will be assessed after the arts intervention and until discharge from the hospital (approximately Day 3 - 21).

As-needed pain medication utilization will be evaluated following the creative arts intervention through subject discharge.

Change in patient depression before and after the interventionEach patient will be assessed at baseline (Day 1) and after the intervention (approximately Day 3 - 21).

Change in depression level will be calculated, based on patient questionnaire responses, following the creative intervention.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

🇺🇸

Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

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