A Preliminary Report of the Effects of Dharma Creative Art Therapy on Psychological Impacts and Quality of Life of Thai Cancer Patients: A Non-Randomized Trial

Jenya  Jutakeo; Vilai Kuptniratsaikul; Patchara  Limampai; Charuwan  Akewanlop; Chattree  Hantaweepant; Kullathorn  Thephamongkhol; Pagorn  Yaimanee

Authors

Jenya Jutakeo Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Vilai Kuptniratsaikul Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Patchara Limampai Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Charuwan Akewanlop Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Chattree Hantaweepant Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Kullathorn Thephamongkhol Division of Radiotherapy, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Pagorn Yaimanee Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Keywords:

art therapy, anxiety, depression, quality of life, cancer

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the effects of Dharma Creative Art Therapy (CAT) on psychological impacts and quality of life

Study design: Non-randomized trial

Setting: Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital

Subjects: Cancer patients during chemotherapy

Methods: This preliminary study recruited eighty-two patients into an experimental group which participated in a 90-minute Dharma CAT session for two consecutive days, while the control group received only a leaflet on holistic approach of cancer palliative treatment. Psychological outcomes of the Dharma CAT were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Thai Stress Test (TST), the Thai Mental Health Index-15 (TMHI-15), and the EQ-5D-5L, which were evaluated before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention.

Results: After the intervention, the CAT group had significantly improved positive TST and TMHI-15 scores compared to the control (p=0.006 and p=0.018, respectively). The effect size of Dharma CAT on positive TST was moderate (0.568) and was minimal for TMHI-15 (0.373). The success rate of patients after receiving Dharma CAT therapy on anxiety, depression, stress, and mental health presented with a relative risk (RR) of 3.0 (95%CI: 0.64, 14.00), 1.5 (95%CI: 0.46, 4.92), 2.5 (95%CI: 0.85, 7.33), and 0.8 (95%CI: 0.23, 2.77), respectively but the changes were not statistically significant. All outcomes were analyzed and compared between groups at baseline, at the end of the study, and at the 1-month follow-up. No statistically significant differences between the groups for any of the outcomes were found.

Conclusions: Dharma CAT reduces stress and improves mental health but does not affect anxiety, depression, or quality of life. It may be considered an adjunctive therapy for reducing stress and improving mental health of cancer patients during chemotherapy.

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