Can art therapy reduce death anxiety and burnout in end-of-life care workers? a quasi-experimental study.
BACKGROUND
The need for empathy and the difficulties of coping with mortality when caring for the dying and the bereaved can cause psychological, emotional, and spiritual strain.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of art-therapy-based supervision in reducing burnout and death anxiety among end-of-life care workers in Hong Kong.


METHODS
Through a quasi-experimental design, 69 participants enrolled in a 6-week, 18-hour art-therapy-based supervision group, and another 63 enrolled in a 3-day, 18-hour standard skills-based supervision group (n=132). Pre- and post-intervention assessments were carried out with three outcome measures: the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Death Attitude Profile-Revised. The data was analysed using paired sample t-tests.


RESULTS
Significant reductions in exhaustion and death anxiety and significant increases in emotional awareness were observed for participants in the art-therapy-based supervision group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides preliminary evidence that art-therapy-based supervision for end-of-life care workers can reduce burnout by enhancing emotional awareness and regulation, fostering meaning-making, and promoting reflection on death.
Lecturer, Centre on Behavioral Health, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, 2/F Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Jordan
J
S Potash
Research Assistant Professor, Sau Po Centre on Aging, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Andy
A
Hy Ho
Honorary Program Adviser, The Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, Hong Kong, and College Senior Lecturer, HKUSPACE Community College, Hong Kong.
Faye
F
Chan
Senior Project Manager, ExCEL3 Project of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Xiao
X
Lu Wang
Education Manager, The Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, Hong Kong.
Carol
C
Cheng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001155:Art Therapy; D002055:Burnout, Professional; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult