Patient perceptions of an art-making experience in an outpatient blood and marrow transplant clinic

Abstract

This study explored blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) patients' perceptions of an art-making experience during BMT treatment. Participants including patients receiving BMT for a variety of cancers (10 men/10 women, aged 20-68) were offered a 1 hour tile-painting activity during treatment. Participants with cognitive impairment and respiratory precautions were excluded from the study. Researchers followed immune precaution protocols for the safety of participants. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 20 participants to gather information about their perceptions of the art-making experience in a BMT clinic setting. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed. Researchers coded transcripts independently and discussed outcomes together to achieve agreement on themes. Twelve themes emerged from the data, with the three most prevalent themes being Occupying Time (20.5%), Creative Expression (13.5%), and Reactions to Tile Painting (13.5%). Other themes included Support (12.2%), Side Effects (7.3%), Other Activities Suggested by Patients (7%), BMT Treatment Process (6.2%), Shared Painting Experience (5.9%), Life Outlook (5.2%), BMT Life Changes (3.8%), Spirituality (3%) and Barriers (1.9%). Through analysis of these themes, researchers have identified this art-making experience as a diversional or meaningful way to spend time during treatment, a medium for creative expression, and a distraction from negative side effects of the BMT process.

Infusion of Life: patient perceptions of expressive therapy during chemotherapy sessions

“…Patients experiencing negative physical or emotional symptoms tend to perceive time as passing slowly (Mische‐Lawson et al . ). Chemotherapy sessions tend to last for several hours and the drugs can often produce negative side effects.…”

“…; Mische‐Lawson et al . ). This self‐expression brought relief, reduced anxiety and depression, and increased awareness of their needs and possibilities.…”

“…; Mische‐Lawson et al . ). The activities proposed by expressive therapy reinforced in many patients the value of family relations and, in others, the strength to surmount family problems.…”

“…; Mische‐Lawson et al . ). Brazilians are very religious, and their faith can give them support to face disease and understand its causes; this was frequently found among the patients of this study.…”

Patient perceptions of a 1-h art-making experience during blood and marrow transplant treatment

“…Previous qualitative research on art‐making with BMT patients reached redundancy of data with most themes after conducting 20 interviews (Mische Lawson et al . ), indicating our sample of 21 BMT patients is adequate for this qualitative study. Participants of this study were recruited from a larger quantitative study in which researchers assigned participants into one of the two groups: art‐making, and treatment as usual (control); only participants engaging in art‐making were included in this study.…”