Art Therapy in Palliative Care: Study of Identification and Understanding of the Mechanisms of Change in the Patient

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Advanced Cancers; Psychological Stress; Suffering
• Interventions: Behavioral: art therapy

• Registration Number: NCT02801045
• Lead Sponsor: Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Brief Summary

This study evaluates from the patient's perspective which elements of the own artistic creative process are the source of a beneficial change for him/her and how those elements influence in their end of life experience.

Detailed Description

In previous quantitative studies about the effect of an art therapy intervention in adult cancer inpatients of the Palliative Care Unit, the investigators evidenced significant improvements in the symptom control of malaise, anxiety, depression and pain.

This study is designed to deepen the understanding of specific action mechanisms which lead to those therapeutic benefits and quality of life implications for patients with life-threatening illness in which a situation of suffering is frequently detected.

The investigators will determine from the subjective patient's experience which specific elements of the artistic creative process (including production of art and art products) may lead to changes in the symptom perception, in meaning and healing process and in the personal perspective about the end of life situation.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-05-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-06-14
• Study First Posted: 2016-06-15
• Study Start: 2016-10-20
• Primary Completion: 2020-06-30
• Study Completion: 2020-12-31
• Status Verified: 2022-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-03-23
• Last Update Posted: 2022-03-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 103

Inclusion Criteria

• advanced-cancer adult inpatients of the Palliative Care Unit
• informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• altered cognitive function (Mini-Mental Test < 24)
• physical decline (palliative care team's criteria) that impedes the art therapy process

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
art therapy	art therapy	Individual 30-60 minutes art therapy sessions, twice a week, offering visual arts materials.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reflect Interview (RI) using audio recording.	After the making of a minimum of 5 art pieces, an average of 2 weeks	An art based interview is administered and involves the patients selecting 2 significant artworks from their art therapy productions. The patient is asked by the art therapist for a narrative of how one artwork relates to the other in the context of his/her lived experience. The art therapy dialogue from the RI is transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Art therapy process from the art therapist perspective.	Every day of art therapy session, with an average of 2 sessions a week, over a period of 2 years.	Detailed notes and photographical register.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital Sant Pau; 🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain