Art therapy using famous painting appreciation maintains fatigue levels during radiotherapy in cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of art therapy to control fatigue in cancer patients during course of radiotherapy and its impact on quality of life (QoL).


METHODS
Fifty cancer patients receiving radiotherapy received weekly art therapy sessions using famous painting appreciation. Fatigue and QoL were assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) Scale and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) at baseline before starting radiotherapy, every week for 4 weeks during radiotherapy, and at the end of radiotherapy. Mean changes of scores over time were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model.


RESULTS
Of the 50 patients, 34 (68%) participated in 4 sessions of art therapy. Generalized linear mixed models testing for the effect of time on mean score changes showed no significant changes in scores from baseline for the BFI and FACIT-F. The mean BFI score and FACIT-F total score changed from 3.1 to 2.7 and from 110.7 to 109.2, respectively. Art therapy based on the appreciation of famous paintings led to increases in self-esteem by increasing self-realization and forming social relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue and QoL in cancer patients with art therapy do not deteriorate during a period of radiotherapy. Despite the single-arm small number of participants and pilot design, this study provides a strong initial demonstration that art therapy of appreciation for famous painting is worthy of further study for fatigue and QoL improvement. Further, it can play an important role in routine practice in cancer patients during radiotherapy.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Information Center, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.
Woong Sub
WS
Koom
Graduate School of Clinical Art Therapy, CHA University, Pocheon, Korea.
Mi Yeon
MY
Choi
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jeongshim
J
Lee
Graduate School of Clinical Art Therapy, CHA University, Pocheon, Korea.
Eun Jung
EJ
Park
Graduate School of Clinical Art Therapy, CHA University, Pocheon, Korea.
Ju Hye
JH
Kim
Graduate School of Clinical Art Therapy, CHA University, Pocheon, Korea.
Sun-Hyun
SH
Kim
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yong Bae
YB
Kim
Art therapy; Cancer; Fatigue; Oncology; Quality of life; Radiotherapy