Práticas integrativas e complementares na atenção primária à saúde / Prácticas integradoras y complementarias en la atención primaria de salud / Integrative and complementary practices in primary health care

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar as práticas integrativas e complementares realizadas pelos profissionais da saúde nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Método: trata-se de um estudo realizado a partir de uma pesquisa qualitativa em cinco Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Pelotas, município do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre janeiro e março de 2020. A produção de informações ocorreu a partir de entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado. A análise foi realizada por meio da proposta de maneira operativa, em três etapas: pré-análise; classificação dos dados; reflexão em busca da interpretação e compreensão de tudo o que foi exposto. Resultados: as 16 participantes eram todas mulheres, com idade entre 33 e 59 anos, sendo nove enfermeiras. As práticas aplicadas pelas profissionais para o cuidado aos usuários eram: Auriculoterapia, Arteterapia, Reiki e Plantas Medicinais. O registro é realizado conforme a organização de cada Unidade Básica de Saúde, podendo ocorrer no Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão, no prontuário físico, em um caderno utilizado para o registro e/ou em ficha específica. Considerações finais: ressalta-se a importância das práticas integrativas e complementares na atenção primária, devido ao vínculo entre profissionais e usuários, ampliando o cuidado integral.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar las prácticas integradoras y complementarias realizadas por los profesionales de la salud en las Unidades Básicas de Salud. Método: se trata de un estudio realizado a partir de una investigación cualitativa en cinco Unidades Básicas de Salud de Pelotas, municipio de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre enero y marzo de 2020. La producción de informaciones se produjo a partir de entrevistas con guion semiestructurado. El análisis fue realizado por medio de la propuesta de manera operativa, en tres etapas: preanálisis; clasificación de los datos; reflexión en busca de la interpretación y comprensión de todo lo que fue expuesto. Resultados: las 16 participantes eran todas mujeres, con edad entre 33 y 59 años, siendo nueve enfermeras. Las prácticas aplicadas por las profesionales para el cuidado a los usuarios eran: Auriculoterapia, Arteterapia, Reiki y Plantas Medicinales. El registro es realizado conforme la organización de cada Unidad Básica de Salud, pudiendo ocurrir en el Registro Médico Electrónico del Ciudadano, en el Registro Médico físico, en un cuaderno utilizado para el registro y/o en ficha específica. Consideraciones finales: se resalta la importancia de las prácticas integradoras y complementarias en la atención primaria, debido al vínculo entre profesionales y usuarios, ampliando el cuidado integral.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the integrative and complementary practices held by health professionals in Primary Health Care Units. Method: this is a study conducted from qualitative research in five Primary Health Care Units of Pelotas, municipality of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between January and March 2020. The production of information occurred from interviews with a semi-structured script. The analysis was performed by means of the proposal in an operative way, in three stages: pre-analysis; data classification; reflection in search of interpretation and understanding of everything that was exposed. Results: the 16 participants were all women, aged between 33 and 59 years, nine of whom were nurses. The practices applied by professionals for the care of users were: Auriculotherapy, Art Therapy, Reiki and Medicinal Plants. The record is performed according to the organization of each Primary Health Care Units, and may occur in the Citizen's Electronic Medical Record, in the physical record, in a notebook used for registration and/or in a specific form. Final considerations: it is underlined the importance of integrative and complementary practices in primary care, due to the bond between professionals and users, expanding comprehensive care.

Art therapy and education between peers connecting the group: an experience report.

OBJECTIVE: to report the "Talent Workshop: Art Therapy Connects the Group". METHOD: this is an experience report of a workshop developed in November 2018, in 3 meetings, at the Family Clinic setting - Rio de Janeiro. Twenty-eight users participated, including diabetics and health professionals. In the first meeting, dynamics was used for presentation. At the second meeting, the circular process and peer education were used to address issues related to diabetes, in addition to exposing talent to workshop participants. At the third meeting, there was exposure of talents to every health unit. RESULTS: the workshop provided comprehensive, individual and collective health promotion of users, allowing knowledgemultiplicationin their living environment. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the workshop was relevant for health education, changing the understanding of the subject's autonomy about his role in self-care.

Stigma correlates in individuals with mental health conditions versus community members enrolled in a nationwide integrated arts-based community rehabilitation program in Israel.

Two of the most prominent challenges faced by people with mental health conditions (MHCs) are experiencing stigma and personal recovery. This study focused on the analysis of baseline data from registrants for integrated arts-based groups in a nationwide psychosocial rehabilitation program in Israel. The aim of the study was to examine the possible associations between self-stigma, personal recovery and creative self-efficacy (CSE) in people with MHCs, and the associations between public stigma, desire for social distance, familiarity with mental illness and CSE in community members. Cross-sectional data were collected by online survey software in October-November 2017 from 114 people with MHCs and 117 community members who enrolled in 15 integrated arts-based groups, and 68 people with MHCs who were not enrolled in integrated groups. The main findings suggest that individuals with MHCs who reported high self-stigma also reported a low sense of personal recovery and low CSE. The CSE of those with MHCs correlated positively with their personal recovery. Among community members, high public stigma was associated with a greater desire for social distance in women, but less contact with MHCs in men. Individuals with MHCs who had previously participated in integrated arts-based groups reported greater personal recovery than those who had not. Community members reported higher CSE and public stigma than the CSE and self-stigma of individuals with MHCs. The findings help characterise both individuals with MHCs and non-clinical community members who decide to enrol in integrated groups, as well as individuals with MHCs who chose not to enrol, enabling similar community-based programs to better identify their conditions and meet their needs. Future research should examine the contribution of integrated arts-based groups to promoting recovery and reducing stigma.

Effects of Art and Reminiscence Therapy on Agitated Behaviors Among Older Adults With Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive degeneration and agitated behavior symptoms of dementia in older adults are the main causes of disability and inability and increase the cost of medical care. Agitated behavior symptoms of dementia are the main causes of early institutionalization and make caregivers exhausted. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of art therapy and reminiscence therapy on the alleviation of agitated behaviors in older adults with dementia. METHODS: An experimental research design with two experimental groups and one comparison group was conducted to examine the effects for each group on agitated behaviors. Participants were recruited from two dementia care centers in central and northern Taiwan. The study included 54 older individuals who met the sampling criteria and completed the data collection process. The participants were randomly allocated into the art therapy group (n = 24), the reminiscence therapy group (n = 22), and the comparison group (n = 8). The intervention consisted of 50-minute sessions conducted weekly for 12 weeks. Regular activities were continued in the comparison group. The structured questionnaires were completed, and observations of agitated behaviors were collected before the intervention and at 1 and 6 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in agitated behavior symptoms at the three time points in the art therapy group, whereas reminiscence therapy was found to have had a clear and immediate effect on decreasing agitated behavior. The generalized estimating equation exchange model test revealed a significant and sustained, postintervention effect of art therapy on agitated behavior. In contrast, no significant and sustained effect on agitated behavior was observed in the reminiscence therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support that art therapy may have a positive effect on dementia-associated agitated behaviors in institutionalized older adults. Reminiscence therapy activities conducted weekly for 50 minutes each session did not reach statistically significant implications. It is suggested that future studies consider conducting art and reminiscence therapies for a 16-week duration with two weekly sessions to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. The duration of follow-up should be extended as well in future studies.

Art therapy and education between peers connecting the group: an experience report / La terapia del arte y la educación entre parejas que conectan al grupo: informe de experiencia / Arteterapia e educação entre pares conectando o grupo: relato de experiência

ABSTRACT Objective: to report the "Talent Workshop: Art Therapy Connects the Group". Method: this is an experience report of a workshop developed in November 2018, in 3 meetings, at the Family Clinic setting - Rio de Janeiro. Twenty-eight users participated, including diabetics and health professionals. In the first meeting, dynamics was used for presentation. At the second meeting, the circular process and peer education were used to address issues related to diabetes, in addition to exposing talent to workshop participants. At the third meeting, there was exposure of talents to every health unit. Results: the workshop provided comprehensive, individual and collective health promotion of users, allowing knowledgemultiplicationin their living environment. Final Considerations: the workshop was relevant for health education, changing the understanding of the subject's autonomy about his role in self-care.

RESUMEN Objetivo: informe "Taller de talento: la terapia del arte conecta al grupo". Método: este es un informe de experiencia de untallerdesarrolladoennoviembre de 2018, en 3 reuniones, enelescenario de la Clínica Familiar - Río de Janeiro. Participaron 28 usuarios, incluidos diabéticos y profesionales de lasalud. En la primera reunión, se utilizó la dinámica para la presentación; en la segunda reunión, el proceso circular y la educación entre pares se utilizaron para abordar cuestiones relacionadas con la diabetes, además de exponer los talentos a los participantes del taller; y enlatercerareunión, la exposición de talentos a cada unidad de salud. Resultados: el taller proporcionó la promoción integral, individual y colectiva de la salud de los usuarios, permitiendo la multiplicación del conocimiento en su entorno de vida. Consideraciones Finales: el taller fue relevante para la educación sanitaria, cambiando la comprensión de la autonomía del sujeto sobre su papel en el autocuidado.

RESUMO Objetivo: relatar a "Oficina de Talentos: a arteterapia conecta o grupo". Método: trata-se de um relato de experiência, de uma oficina desenvolvida em novembro de 2018, em 3 encontros, no cenário Clínica da Família - Rio de Janeiro. Participaram 28 usuários, entre diabéticos e profissionais de saúde. O 1º encontro, foi utilizada dinâmica para apresentação; no 2º encontro, foi utilizado o processo circular e a educação entre pares, para tratar de temas relacionados a diabetes, além da exposição de talentos aos participantes da oficina; e no 3º encontro, a exposição dos talentos a toda unidade de saúde. Resultados: a oficina proporcionou a promoção da saúde de maneira integral, individual e coletiva dos usuários, permitindo a multiplicação dos saberes no seu ambiente de convivência. Considerações Finais: a oficina foi relevante para a educação em saúde, modificando a compreensão da autonomia do próprio sujeito acerca do seu papel no autocuidado.

Impact of brief intervention and art therapy for alcohol users / Impacto de la intervención breve y de la arteterapia en usuarios de alcohol / Impacto da intervenção breve e arteterapia para usuários de álcool

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the impact of brief intervention paired with art therapy in patients who use alcohol. Method: This study presents intra-group design, with 11 alcoholics in the city of Tamarana-PR, Brazil, between 2015 and 2016. A test to identify the alcohol consumption level was used at the beginning/end of the actions. Cohen's effect size and paired t-test were used to identify the impact of the actions on the reduction of alcohol intake. Results: Six participants ceased alcohol consumption, four showed high level of consumption and one presented average consumption. The paired t-test result suggested statistically significant difference between the initial and final scores, as well as 0.76 effect size. Conclusion: The brief intervention associated with the art therapy resulted in significant impact in reducing alcohol consumption. Investing in the continuous training of primary health care professionals is crucial to consolidate the improvements achieved.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de la intervención breve junto con la arteterapia en usuarios que consumen alcohol. Método: Diseño intragrupo, siendo realizado entre 2015 y 2016, con la participación de 11 alcohólicos de la ciudad de Tamarana (PR, Brasil). Se realizó una prueba para identificar el nivel de consumo de alcohol antes y después de las acciones, y se calcularon el tamaño del efecto de Cohen y la prueba t pareada para evaluar el impacto de las acciones en la reducción del consumo de alcohol. Resultados: Seis dejaron de consumir alcohol, cuatro presentaron un alto consumo y uno presentó un consumo mediano. El resultado de la prueba t pareada reveló una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los puntajes inicial y final, así como en el tamaño del efecto con un 0,76. Conclusión: La intervención breve asociada a la arteterapia tuvo un gran impacto en la disminuición del consumo de alcohol. Es fundamental invertir en la educación continuada de los profesionales de la atención primaria de salud para consolidar las mejoras obtenidas.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o impacto da intervenção breve em conjunto com a arteterapia em usuários que consomem álcool. Método: Delineamento intragrupo, com 11 alcoolistas na cidade de Tamarana-PR, entre 2015 e 2016. Foi utilizado um teste para identificação do nível de consumo de álcool ao início/término das ações e calculada a medida de efeito de Cohen e teste t pareado, para identificar o impacto das ações na redução do consumo de álcool. Resultados: Houve seis cessares do consumo de álcool, quatro apresentaram nível elevado de consumo e um apresentou consumo mediano. O resultado do teste t pareado sugeriu diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os escores iniciais e finais, assim como a medida de efeito de 0,76. Conclusão: A intervenção breve associada à arteterapia resultaram em grande impacto para a redução do consumo de álcool. É fundamental investir na educação continuada dos profissionais da atenção primária em saúde para consolidar as melhorias obtidas.

Impact of brief intervention and art therapy for alcohol users.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the impact of brief intervention paired with art therapy in patients who use alcohol. METHOD: This study presents intra-group design, with 11 alcoholics in the city of Tamarana-PR, Brazil, between 2015 and 2016. A test to identify the alcohol consumption level was used at the beginning/end of the actions. Cohen's effect size and paired t-test were used to identify the impact of the actions on the reduction of alcohol intake. RESULTS: Six participants ceased alcohol consumption, four showed high level of consumption and one presented average consumption. The paired t-test result suggested statistically significant difference between the initial and final scores, as well as 0.76 effect size. CONCLUSION: The brief intervention associated with the art therapy resulted in significant impact in reducing alcohol consumption. Investing in the continuous training of primary health care professionals is crucial to consolidate the improvements achieved.

Art as a Therapeutic Tool in Depressive Disorders: a Systematic Review of the Literature.

Different alternative forms of therapy have been studied in relation to their applicability and effectiveness. The use of art therapy in the treatment of depressive disorder is an example frequently employed in several countries. The aim of this research was to identify and discuss which artistic techniques have been applied most frequently in the treatment of depressive disorders and what their main effects are. The research was conducted in the MEDLINE/PubMed, American Psychological Association (APA) and Web of Science databases. The articles were selected through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA protocol). 14 articles were selected, among which the main techniques of art therapy used were: manual work (drawing, painting, and modeling), music, poetry, photography, theater and contemplation of art pieces. It was found that most of the researches are European and as a field of knowledge they depart mainly from medicine. Of the 14 researches of this review, only two failed in the use of art therapy techniques as a therapeutic tool. It can be understood that art therapy is a safe and reliable tool for treatment not only of depression but also of other mental disorders.

Photojournalism-Based Intervention Reduces Caregiver Burden and Depression in Alzheimer's Disease Family Caregivers.

Purpose: Art interventions have demonstrated holistic benefits for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. In this article, we describe the results of a pilot photojournalism program for 10 unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia, with respect to caregivers' experience in the program and their psychological well-being. Design: Caregivers participated in four sessions led by a professional photojournalist who taught principles of photography. Between the sessions, caregivers took photographs that represented what caregiving meant to them using digital cameras provided in the program. During the sessions, instruction was interspersed with discussion of caregivers' photographs. Method: Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were measured pre- and postprogram. Qualitative exploration included sessions' observations, viewing caregivers' photographs, and recording caregivers' accompanying comments. Findings: For participants with pre- and postprogram data, caregiver burden decreased significantly (p = .037). For caregivers with pre- and postprogram data, depressive symptoms decreased nonsignificantly (p = .066). Clinically meaningful reductions in caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were attained. Qualitative findings highlighted caregivers' strong engagement with the project, the facilitator, and other participants, and reflection on multiple aspects of their experience. Conclusions: This intervention helped caregivers creatively communicate their experience and demonstrated efficacy in the improvement of caregivers' psychological well-being.

[Questionnaire on the Experience of the Art Therapy Group in Psychosomatics from Patient View (FEKTP) - Construction and Validation of a Measuring Instrument]. / Fragebogen zum Erleben der Kunsttherapiegruppe in der Psychosomatik aus Patientensicht (FEKTP).

Art therapy is a clinically accepted method of therapy, but there are still very few studies that deal with the efficacy, change factors or mode of action of art therapy. In particular, there is a dearth of research instruments and psychometrically verified research tools specially fitted for art therapy which measures the experience dimensions of the art therapy group from the patient's point of view. Hence, it provides evidence of its effectiveness, better understands the art therapy group processes and serves quality assurance. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate the questionnaire on the experience of the art therapy group from patient view (FEKTP). This questionnaire is based on Grawe's and Yalom's conceptions of change factors in group therapy. 133 patients participated in the study and completed the FEKTP directly after the 6th art therapy session. Patients additionally received established questionnaires concerning clinical symptoms and experience processes at the beginning and end of treatment. Factor analysis demonstrated a clear factor structure of the FEKTP, which corresponded to the theoretically predicted subscales to the greatest extent. The test psychometric main quality criteria of the FEKTP (reliability, validity and objectivity) can be classified as acceptable to good range. The criterion validity appear to be given, but should be examined more exactly in future studies. Thus, a valid instrument for the systemic detection of general change factors for art therapy is now available. The questionnaire can be recommended for research as well as clinical contexts.

Massage, Music, and Art Therapy in Hospice: Results of a National Survey.

CONTEXT: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) provides clinical benefits to hospice patients, including decreased pain and improved quality of life. Yet little is known about the extent to which U.S. hospices employ CAM therapists. OBJECTIVES: To report the most recent national data regarding the inclusion of art, massage, and music therapists on hospice interdisciplinary teams and how CAM therapist staffing varies by hospice characteristics. METHODS: A national cross-sectional survey of a random sample of hospices (n = 591; 84% response rate) from September 2008 to November 2009. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent of hospices (169 of 591) reported employing an art, massage, or music therapist. Of those hospices, 74% employed a massage therapist, 53% a music therapist, and 22% an art therapist, and 42% expected the therapist to attend interdisciplinary staff meetings, indicating a significant role for these therapists on the patient's care team. In adjusted analyses, larger hospices compared with smaller hospices had significantly higher odds of employing a CAM therapist (adjusted odds ratio 6.38; 95% CI 3.40, 11.99) and for-profit hospices had lower odds of employing a CAM therapist compared with nonprofit hospices (adjusted odds ratio 0.52; 95% CI 0.32, 0.85). Forty-four percent of hospices in the Mountain/Pacific region reported employing a CAM therapist vs. 17% in the South Central region. CONCLUSION: Less than one-third of U.S. hospices employ art, massage, or music therapists despite the benefits these services may provide to patients and families. A higher proportion of large hospices, nonprofit hospices, and hospices in the Mountain/Pacific region employ CAM therapists, indicating differential access to these important services.

The use of art and music therapy in substance abuse treatment programs.

Although the implementation of evidence-based practices in the treatment of substance use disorders has attracted substantial research attention, little consideration has been given to parallel implementation of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) practices. Using data from a nationally representative sample (N = 299) of U.S. substance abuse treatment programs, this study modeled organizational factors falling in the domains of patient characteristics, treatment ideologies, and structural characteristics, associated with the use of art therapy and music therapy. We found that 36.8% of treatment programs offered art therapy and 14.7% of programs offered music therapy. Programs with a greater proportion of women were more likely to use both therapies, and programs with larger proportions of adolescents were more likely to offer music therapy. In terms of other treatment ideologies, programs' use of Motivational Enhancement Therapy was positively related to offering art therapy, whereas use of contingency management was positively associated with offering music therapy. Finally, our findings showed a significant relationship between requiring 12-step meetings and the use of both art therapy and music therapy. With increasing use of CAM in a diverse range of medical settings and recent federal legislation likely to reduce barriers in accessing CAM, the inclusion of CAM in addiction treatment is growing in importance. Our findings suggest treatment programs may be utilizing art and music therapies to address unique patient needs of women and adolescents.

Provision and practice of art therapy for people with schizophrenia: results of a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Art therapy has been recommended as a treatment for people with psychosis. However, little is known about the availability, organisation or delivery of art therapy within NHS settings. AIMS: To describe the availability, structure and content of art therapy for people with schizophrenia provided by NHS services in England. METHODS: A survey of art therapists working in a randomly selected sample of half of all mental health Trusts in England. RESULTS: Not all mental health Trusts employ art therapists. Those which do employ few therapists, typically on a sessional basis who work across a variety of inpatient and community-based settings. Most art therapists report that their practice is underpinned by psychodynamically grounded understandings of psychosis. However, rather than seek to explore underlying dynamics, art therapists typically adopt a non-directive approach encouraging patients to use image making to express feelings and reflect on these in a concrete way to develop self-understanding. While three-quarters of respondents reported that their work was valued by colleagues, less than half considered art therapy well understood by colleagues or integrated with other services. CONCLUSIONS: People diagnosed with schizophrenia have limited access to art therapy in NHS settings. Further research is needed to understand the experience and outcomes of art therapy to support its meaningful integration within the spectrum of care required to meet the needs of people with schizophrenia.

Pride and performance: evaluation challenges of a multimedia and information technologies project in remote Aboriginal Australia.

OBJECTIVES: This paper explores an approach to an evaluation challenge: to demonstrate the impact of an initiative drawing on innovative use of information/multimedia technology and performance to address perceived social needs within a disadvantaged, remote Indigenous Australian community. RESULTS: The approach is described and preliminary data are presented supporting the importance of local production and participation.

Do you see what I see? A study about the interrater reliability in art therapy.

There are many clinical reports on art therapy, but there are few data from experimental research. The main goal of this study was to investigate the interrater agreement of 86 raters who evaluated a picture created during an art therapy session. This rating was based on formal (color, lines, shapes) and contextual criteria. The resulting interrater agreement was not satisfying (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.18-0.52). The authors also address the question of whether raters are able to determine which picture was created at the beginning of the art therapy and which was created at the end. On the basis of the examination of five sets of pictures, it became apparent that they were not able to do so.

Anthroposophic art therapy in chronic disease: a four-year prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Anthroposophic art therapy (painting, clay modeling, music, and speech exercises) is used in 28 countries but has not yet been studied in primary care. OBJECTIVE: To study clinical outcomes in patients treated with anthroposophic art therapy for chronic diseases. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Fifty-four medical practices in Germany. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: One hundred sixty-one consecutive outpatients (primary care: n = 150), aged 5-71 years, were treated by 52 different art therapists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disease and symptom scores (physician and patient assessment, respectively, 0-10) and quality of life (adults: SF-36 Health Survey, children: KINDL Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents). Outcomes were measured after 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months; SF-36 and symptom scores were also measured after 48 months. RESULTS: Most common indications were mental disorders (60.9% of patients, primarily depression, fatigue, and anxiety) and neurological diseases (6.8%). The median number of therapy sessions was 15; median therapy duration was 161 days. All outcomes except KINDL improved significantly between baseline and all subsequent follow-ups. Improvements from baseline to 12 months were: disease score from (mean +/- standard deviation) 6.69 +/- 1.72 to 2.46 +/- 1.90 (P < .001), symptom score from 5.99 +/- 1.69 to 3.40 +/- 2.08 (P < .001), SF-36 physical component summary measure from 44.12 +/- 10.03 to 48.68 +/- 9.47 (P < .001), and SF-36 mental component summary measure from 35.07 +/- 12.23 to 42.13 +/- 11.51 (P < .001). All these improvements were maintained until last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving anthroposophic art therapy had long-term reduction of chronic disease symptoms and improvement of quality of life.

Relieving symptoms in cancer: innovative use of art therapy.

Art therapy has been used in a variety of clinical settings and populations, although few studies have explored its use in cancer symptom control. The specific aim of this study was to determine the effect of a 1-hour art therapy session on pain and other symptoms common to adult cancer inpatients. A quasi-experimental design was used (n=50). The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI-S) were used prior to and after the art therapy to quantify symptoms, while open-ended questions evaluated the subjects' perceptions of the experience. There were statistically significant reductions in eight of nine symptoms measured by the ESAS, including the global distress score, as well as significant differences in most of the domains measured by the STAI-S. Subjects overwhelmingly expressed comfort with the process and desire to continue with therapy. This study provides beginning evidence for the efficacy of art therapy in reducing a broad spectrum of symptoms in cancer inpatients.