Arts & Health最新文献

Introduction: Tobacco and nicotine use are prevalent in residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs that serve pregnant and parenting women. This study evaluated a group intervention that integrates knitting instruction, psychoeducation, and social support to improve readiness to quit and reduce tobacco and nicotine use among this population.

Methods: Clients and staff in four residential SUD treatment programs were assigned to a six-week group intervention or a wait-list control group. Intervention implementation and preliminary effectiveness were assessed using surveys, interviews, and observational measures.

Results: From pre- to post-test, knowledge related to tobacco and nicotine use increased and number of cigarettes smoked per day and nicotine dependence decreased, on average. Additionally, the intervention group reported lower levels of nicotine dependence relative to the control group. Participants described knitting as an enjoyable replacement for smoking and a strategy to regulate stress and emotions.

Conclusions: Smoking cessation interventions that include knitting are promising and warrant further testing.

Background: This paper considers weaknesses in a study by Cohen et al. (2006) on the impacts of community singing on health. These include high demand characteristics, lack of attention to attrition, flawed statistical analysis, and measurement. Nevertheless, the study is uncritically cited, in evidence reviews, with findings taken at face value.

Methods: Google Scholar, SCOPUS and BASE citation functions for Cohen et al. identified 32 evidence reviews in peer-reviewed journals. Eleven of these reviews, published between 2010 and 2023, focused on creative arts interventions.

Results: We demonstrate limitations in the Cohen et al. research which undermine the conclusions they reach regarding the health benefits of group singing. Subsequent evidence reviews take the findings at face value and offer little critical commentary.

Discussion: We consider what is needed to improve evidence reviews in the field of creative arts and health research.

Conclusions: A more robust approach is needed in reviewing research evidence in the field of arts and health. The Cohen et al. paper is not suitable for inclusion in future evidence reviews.

Background: Research has acknowledged the potential benefits of art programs in palliative care settings while also highlighting associated concerns due to the extreme vulnerability of clients. To add to existing research, which predominantly focuses on social and healthcare outcomes of art initiatives, this study examines how artists shape their practice in response to the unique challenges of palliative care and client vulnerability.

Method: We conducted ethnographic research, observing and conducting in-depth interviews with nine artists working in a Belgian supportive and palliative daycare centre.

Results: The findings reveal that the artists prioritise providing meaningful artistic experiences and employ a responsive, improvisational approach, emphasising the principle of negotiation.

Conclusions: Working as an artist in palliative care presents both emotional and artistic challenges. Expectations regarding what art can mean in this context must be held in check, all while keeping the repercussions of interventions on clients firmly in focus.

Music medicine holds transformative potential for enhancing patient care, yet its widespread impact remains limited due to several barriers. While music has demonstrated benefits to human health, its integration into healthcare settings has been constrained by its predominance of Euro-centric classical genres and a narrow pool of providers. To unlock music medicine's full potential, a broader approach is necessary. This includes diversifying musical genres to include a range of cultural preferences, expanding the role of certified music therapists, leveraging technology for remote interventions, and establishing new reimbursement pathways. However, current practices often perpetuate health disparities by limiting access to affluent settings, skewing evidence, and excluding marginalized communities. To address these issues, we advocate for a reconceptualization of music interventions that prioritizes equity, inclusivity, and cultural relevance. Expanding research, integrating diverse musical offerings, and adopting online platforms can enhance accessibility and effectiveness, bridging gaps in care and improving patient outcomes. By embracing these changes, music medicine can evolve into a comprehensive, equitable tool for holistic health promotion.

Background: Leisure activities are believed to contribute to healthy ageing. We compared the effects of choir singing and go playing on cortisol levels in Japanese older adults. We also examined its relevance to the older adults' emotional affect and cognitive performance.

Methods: Thirty-six older adults participated either in choir or go playing, within a 2 (groups)×2 (time points) design. Dependent measures included levels of salivary cortisol, as well as key psychological, cognitive, and neuropsychological measures.

Results: A significant two-way interaction was observed, showing that levels of salivary cortisol decreased for the choir but increased for the go groups. The decrease in salivary cortisol for the choir group correlated with the participant's negative affect and their degree of cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Choir singing has the potential to reduce Japanese older adults' physiological stress. The decreases can be seen more prominently for people with stronger negative affect and cognitive impairment. Further research is required to replicate these effects.

Background: This study addresses the challenge of developing context-sensitive measures of wellbeing for young people. In collaboration with a youth-led musical enterprise, researchers worked with 18 young artists (aged 14-25) engaged in an urban community arts programme to co-produce wellbeing dimensions reflective of their lived experiences.

Methods: An adapted Nominal Group Technique was used alongside iterative inductive thematic analysis to identify and prioritise key wellbeing dimensions.

Results: The study revealed ten discrete dimensions of wellbeing that reflect the experiences of young people engaged in community arts. These dimensions highlight the significance of creative expression, cultural appreciation, community experiences, and social responsibility, elements aligned with wellbeing but rarely considered in standardised wellbeing frameworks.

Conclusion: The study highlights the value of youth-led, situated approaches to defining dimensions of wellbeing, offering a framework that captures the creative and social dimensions in community arts contexts.

Background: Complementary and alternative therapies (CAT), including artistic pursuits, have the potential to significantly aid in the management of symptoms and the enhancement of quality of life for patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). This research study investigates the long-term effects of art classes on women in a natural environment, with a focus on how art influences their perception of the disease and their ability to cope with its symptoms.

Methods: A narrative inquiry was conducted, encompassing in-depth interviews with 17 women hailing from a charitable treatment center located in Iran.

Results: The findings of the study demonstrate that participation in art classes has a substantial impact on the emotional resilience, psychological well-being, and physical symptoms of the participants. The study underscores the clinical efficacy of art in enhancing quality of life and its supportive role in physical rehabilitation.

Conclusion: This research demonstrates the potential of incorporating art into treatment programmes for women with MS. The findings support the integration of art as a complementary therapy to promote physical and psychological well-being.

Background: Participatory music-based interventions can promote mental health and connectedness across diverse contexts, including in the perinatal period. However, research on participatory music-based perinatal interventions is limited and typically focused on postnatal depression. This study explores the various elements of four music-based interventions supporting different severities of perinatal mental health needs.

Methods: Five musician leads and two clinicians were interviewed from four music-based perinatal interventions. Interviews explored the key features, goals, impacts and challenges of each intervention.

Results: A reflexive thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) Incorporating varied musical activities; (2) Fostering a supportive community; (3) Affecting psycho-emotional change; and (4) Strategies for accessibility.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the multiple mechanisms through which participatory music interventions can promote perinatal mental health, including emotional regulation, self-compassion and coping skills. These findings can be used to guide future interventions for a wider spectrum of severities and types of perinatal mental health.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a theatre-based intervention for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). To this end, we assigned participants to two types of intervention: a) theatre-based, which included both active and passive participation activities (Teatre Lliure, Barcelona, Spain), and b) cognitive stimulation (memory and attention) at home (Barcelona, Spain).Method: Before and after the intervention, participants were assessed on cognition (memory, language, and executive functions), mood (depression and anxiety), emotional state (apathy and anhedonia), and quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, PDQ-39).Results: By comparing participants' performance pre- and post-intervention, it could be seen that they reported cognitive improvements on the PDQ-39. In addition, depressive symptoms and anxiety decreased significantly after the intervention in both groups. However, emotional well-being improved only in participants enrolled in the theatre-based intervention.Conclusions: In conclusion, our study findings demonstrated that theatre-based interventions have specific benefits for emotional well-being and non-specific benefits in terms of reducing depressive symptoms and anxiety, as well as self-perceived cognitive improvement.

Background: Art-based interventions are recognised for their mental health (MH) benefits. This study assessed the changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults and their experiences after participating in a three-session mixed arts workshop.

Method: This non-controlled trial study included a pre-intervention and two post-intervention measurements of depression (PHQ-8) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms and exit interviews with participants and facilitators. The registration number of this trial is ISRCTN16079466.

Results: Thirty-seven young adults participated in the study. Over 78% of participants reduced their PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scores by at least 3 points after the workshop. Three months later, over 75% maintained that reduction on both scores. Participants reported experiencing social, emotional, and individual benefits after the workshop.

Conclusions: Art-based workshops offer promising benefits for youth's MH. This intervention can be short and cost-effective. An integrative approach combining arts and MH may be positive for individuals with anxiety and depression.