Art viewing directives in hospital settings effect on mood.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect viewing directives can have when encountering art in hospitals. A secondary objective of the study was to understand the responses of viewers to an art exhibit on the theme of medical student empathy toward patient pain and suffering.


BACKGROUND
Displaying art in hospitals has been credited with increasing well-being of patients, visitors, and staff. Generally, hospital curators have focused on the type of art to display (natural, symbolic, and abstract). This focus has neglected the possibility that in addition to the type of art, the way that viewers engage art may also be responsible for the healing effect.


METHODS
Participants (n = 97) were randomly allocated into one of the viewing directives: (1) reflecting on one artwork, (2) creating a drawing or poem in response to one artwork, or (3) no direction. Prior to looking at the art and immediately after, participants were administered the Brief Mood Introspection Scale (BMIS) and offered an opportunity to participate in an interview.


RESULTS
Pre-post results of the BMIS demonstrated that viewers who received directions achieved some therapeutic effect. Qualitative themes from the post-exhibit interviews identified that the empathy themed exhibit was well received, although there were differences among responses from patients, visitors, and staff.


CONCLUSIONS
The results imply that hospitals may consider offering prompts to help viewers engage with art to enhance mood and exhibiting art that demonstrates empathy for patient suffering.
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Centre on Behavioral Health, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Rainbow T H
RT
Ho
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Centre on Behavioral Health, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, Pokfulam, Hong Kong jordan@jordanpotash.com jspotash@hku.hk.
Jordan S
JS
Potash
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Fan
F
Fang
Department of Family Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Judy
J
Rollins
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001154:Art; D002681:China; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
art exhibit; empathy; hospital; suffering; viewing directive