Patient Care

Paging Dr. Picasso

By Lisa Zamosky

Art programs show promise in aiding patient recovery, improving satisfaction

A growing body of evidence suggests that arts-based programs in health care settings can go a long way toward saving money and improving patient satisfaction, safety and quality.

"There are various research studies that show a correlation between the kind of art that people look at, or music they listen to, or interactive art programs … and their reduced anxiety levels, reduced stress, and their perceptions about how they feel about their overall health care experience," says Blair Sadler, senior fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and author of Transforming the Healthcare Experience Through the Arts.

Health care arts programs incorporate visual and performing arts, music, photography, dance and drama into the healing environment. Slightly less than 50 percent of U.S. health care organizations currently have an arts program, the most common being visual art displayed in patient rooms and hallways.

Shands Healthcare has been operating its Arts in Medicine program for 20 years and incorporates nearly every creative art form into patient care. The Gainsville, Fla., system has seen improved patient and staff satisfaction, reduced hospital stays and improved compliance in chronically ill patients. "Our leadership has bought into the belief that creative arts are good for people," says Tina Mullen, director of the program. Existing research supports that belief.

A 2006 study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that individuals with cancer who participated in a one-hour art therapy session experienced a reduction in pain, tiredness, depression, anxiety and other symptoms common among adult cancer patients. Parkinson's patients taking part in tango dancing sessions showed significant improvement in balance and mobility in a 2007 study published in the Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy.

Arts programs can also have a powerful impact on a hospital's bottom line. A recent study conducted by the health care consulting and research firm, American Art Resources, looked at the effects of visual art on stress and aggressive behavior in psychiatric patients at a small state hospital. CEO and Creative Director Kathy Hathorn says that on the days artwork was on display, demands for PRN medications went down significantly. "This hospital estimated saving $30,000 per year just on the reduced need for medication and the staff to provide it," Hathorn says.

To build a successful art program, hospitals are advised to carefully match the program to the therapeutic needs of the community, and to plan for its relevance 15 to 20 years out. "There is enough rigorous research now that people think, 'This is something I can bet my future on,' " Hathorn says.

This article 1st appeared in the July 2010 issue of HHN Magazine.

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