Art Making as a Health Intervention: Concept Analysis and Implications for Nursing Interventions

Themes of Liminality: Stories From Cancer Family Caregiver Narratives

Cancer family caregivers dwell in an evolving landscape of ambiguity and in-betweenness, as "betwixt and between," in a space of unknowing. This space of unknowing exists within a transformational threshold of liminality, between what was known prior to the cancer and what will be known and embodied in the future. Theoretically grounded in Unitary Caring Science, this study used narrative inquiry alongside photo elicitation to cocreate cancer caregiver narratives and identify themes of liminality. Four thematic threads of liminality were identified as woven within and across the cancer caregiver narratives; stories of paradox, time warp, life disruption, and waiting in silence.

Trauma-informed leadership strategies to improve baccalaureate nursing student engagement and well-being

Trauma-informed leadership is a critical strategy in enhancing nursing student success by fostering a supportive and empowering educational environment. The inclusion of trauma-informed practices in nursing education emphasizes the importance of understanding this generation of students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other potential traumas. Strategies for how trauma-informed leadership was implemented in a baccalaureate nursing program are detailed in this article. In an enhanced relationship-centered environment, opportunities were developed to build relationships and trust with students during scheduled faculty-student lunches, and open virtual hours in the evening with the program director. Through a senior-class art therapy project, students enjoyed the opportunity for creativity and healing. Supportive resources were provided to students, such as counseling and academic support specialists. However, the limitations of this approach include the need for ongoing faculty development and potential challenges in tailoring support to individual student needs. Despite these limitations, the trauma-informed leadership approach targeted student well-being, resilience, trust, and a sense of belonging. The implications for nursing educational practice underscore the necessity of adopting trauma-informed approaches to better prepare a resilient and engaged pipeline of nurses.

The Exploration of Art Creation Among Mothers from Ontario, Canada, with Histories of Gender-Based Violence Using an Interpretive Description Approach

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a human rights violation and an issue of gender inequality, with 35% of women globally experiencing GBV. Mothers who experience GBV are a unique population, with vast implications on their health. Artmaking can reduce these health effects due to the self-expression, emotional healing, empowerment, and social change which often occur. The purpose of this study was to understand the process of independently creating a visual art form for mothers in Ontario, Canada, with histories of GBV, as a reflection of their experience of GBV. An arts-based interpretive descriptive study informed by intersectionality was conducted with 13 mothers from Ontario with histories of GBV utilizing semistructured interviews. Two themes emerged: (1) creative processes and (2) storytelling experiences of GBV through art. The findings from this study highlight the process of art creation among mothers from Ontario who have experienced GBV. However, further exploration surrounding artmaking among mothers with histories of GBV in Canada is warranted.

The effects of art-making intervention on mind-body and quality of life in adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the effectiveness of art-making interventions on physical and psychological outcomes, as well as quality of life (QOL), in adult patients with cancer.

METHODS

Seven English-language databases (PubMed, Academic Search Premier, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and three Chinese-language databases (CNKI, WanFang, and VIP) were searched up to and including May 1, 2023. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 and the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies-of Interventions to evaluate the certainty of evidence. The data were analyzed using Review Manager software 5.4. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022321471).

RESULTS

The studies predominantly focused on visual art (n = 21), two specifically used performing art (n = 2), and five integrated both forms of art-making (n = 5). The pooled results showed that art-making significantly improved anxiety (SMD =  - 1.12, 95% CI [- 1.43, - 0.81], p < 0.01), depression (SMD =  - 0.91, 95% CI [- 1.16, - 0.65], p < 0.01), distress (SMD =  - 1.19, 95% CI [- 1.43, - 0.95], p < 0.01), psychological well-being (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI [0.02, 0.80], p = 0.04), societal well-being (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI [0.04, 0.54], p = 0.03), nausea (SMD =  - 1.81, 95% CI [- 2.84, - 0.78], p < 0.01), physical well-being (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI [0.02, 0.20], p = 0.02), and QOL (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI [0.29, 1.33], p < 0.01). However, it did not significantly improve fatigue (SMD =  - 0.28, 95% CI [- 0.75, 0.19], p = 0.24) and pain (SMD =  - 0.18, 95% CI [- 1.97, 1.60], p = 0.84) in patients with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Art-making interventions may boost psychological well-being, physical symptoms, and QOL among patients with cancer. More robust studies are necessary to overcome methodological limitations and promote wider adoption of these interventions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Prospero registration number: CRD42022321471.

Pain through the perspective of art and creativity: insights from the Unmasking Pain project

People struggle to tell their story of living with pain and when they do it is articulated in a way that may not be understood, heard or taken seriously. Unmasking Pain is an artist-led project that explored creative approaches to tell stories of life with pain. The project was led by a dance theatre company that specialises in storytelling and emotional experiences for players and audiences. The project involved artists and people living with ongoing pain co-creating activities and environments to curiously explore "oneself", through imagination and creative expression. This article discusses insights and perspectives emerging from the project. The project revealed the power of art to make-sense of oneself with or without pain, and how art facilitates expression of complex inner experience and personal stories. People described Unmasking Pain as "explorative joy despite pain", and "a new set of rules" that contrasts with those experienced during clinical encounters. We discuss how art has the potential to improve clinical encounters and promote health and well-being, and whether artist-led activities are an intervention, therapy, or something else. Pain rehabilitation specialists from the project described Unmasking Pain as "freeing-up thinking", allowing conceptual thought beyond the biopsychosocial model of pain. We conclude that art has the potential to shift people living with pain from "I can't do, I am not willing to do it" to "Perhaps I can, I'll give it a go, I enjoyed".

Evaluation of art making activity as a pain management strategy for older adults and their experience using an art making intervention

Chronic pain is a common and bothersome experience for older adults. Consequently, pain management is critical to maintaining their function and well-being. Art making, a non-pharmacological approach, has gained empirical support and is used for functional and cognitive improvement in older adults. However, it has rarely been used to manage chronic pain. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand older adults' experience using a newly designed art making intervention and its influence on their pain. Overall, 11 older adults used the intervention and reported its quality to be appropriate. Moreover, older adults reported that art making was an engaging, diversional activity which reduced their pain severity and improved their mood. The findings of this study will be used to inform a future pilot study to assess the impact of art making on pain management in older adults with chronic pain.