Promoting Health and Wellbeing Through Non-Clinical Arts Programming: Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives From the Veterans Health Administration.
Am J Health Promot
; : 8901171241261887, 2024 Jun 13.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38871354
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
While the value of art therapy is well-established and arts are increasingly leveraged to promote health and wellbeing more broadly, little is known about the impacts of non-clinical arts programs. In this preliminary investigation, we sought to fill this gap by exploring diverse stakeholders' perspectives on the impacts of non-clinical arts programming on Veterans receiving care at the Veterans Health Administration (VA).DESIGN:
Semi-structured qualitative interviews with Veterans, VA staff, and community partners.SETTING:
Interviewees were recruited from 7 VA medical centers that have recently implemented non-clinical arts programming to promote Veterans' health and wellbeing, some of them in partnership with community organizations.PARTICIPANTS:
33 individuals were interviewed, including 9 Veterans, 14 VA staff, and 10 community partners involved in non-clinical arts program implementation.METHOD:
Interview transcripts were analyzed using iterative rounds of qualitative content analysis.RESULTS:
The following impacts on Veterans were described (1) mental health improvements, (2) renewed sense of purpose; (3) increased social connectedness, (4) improved self-esteem, and (5) self-driven engagement in art activities.CONCLUSION:
Non-clinical arts programming was perceived by diverse stakeholders to offer important benefits for Veterans' health and well-being. Offering non-clinical arts programming inside and outside healthcare facilities' walls is a promising direction for the field of public health undergoing a shift towards holistic approaches to improving individual and population health outcomes.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Health Promot
Journal subject:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States