Advanced Cancers, Psychological Stress, Suffering
Conditions
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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALart therapy
Patient's creativity is stimulated by visual arts materials and various art therapy techniques including punctual use of music, poetry and body expression. The intervention, based on the investigators previous experience, is founded on: * humanistic phenomenological focus * transpersonal therapeutic bound * transdisciplinarity in the artistic approach * integrative-relational specialized counseling of the grief, loss and trauma aspects.
Sponsors
Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed