Author: Staricoff, Rosalia Lelchuck

Publication Year: 2004

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This review of medical literature published between 1990 and 2004 explores the relationship of the arts and humanities to healthcare, and the influence and effects of the arts on health. The aim of the study is to strengthen existing anecdotal and qualitative information demonstrating the impact that the arts can have on health.

Abstract:

This review of medical literature published between 1990 and 2004 explores the relationship of the arts and humanities to healthcare, and the influence and effects of the arts on health. The aim of the study is to strengthen existing anecdotal and qualitative information demonstrating the impact that the arts can have on health.

Background and context

In its report of July 1999, Policy Action Team 10 (PAT 10) argued that participation in the arts and sport can help to address neighbourhood renewal by improving communities’ performance on the four key indicators of health, crime, employment and education (DCMS, 1999). The report noted, however, that although there was much ‘anecdotal evidence that the arts and sport are successful in promoting community development, relatively little “hard” evidence existed about the cost and benefit of arts and sport in community development, and about what sorts of projects provide value for money’.

This literature review does not seek to be the definitive evidence base for arts in health interventions. It is clear that there are still many areas for exploration and review. Two examples would be: the emerging evidence around the use of arts interventions in community settings to improve health; and work that is concerned with the first hand engagement of artists with patients and staff in healthcare settings. The broader context of research into arts in health interventions is currently being considered as a part of Arts Council England's development of a national strategy for arts and health.

Although the therapeutic effects of the arts have been recognised for many centuries, it is only in recent years that there have been systematic and controlled studies of these effects. There are still many areas to explore, such as the relationship between the introduction of arts and humanities into the healthcare environment and the recruitment and retention of staff. There is a widespread interest in evaluating the effect of the arts and humanities on the education and training of nursing and medical staff, looking in particular at the effect on performance and interactions with the patient. There is also a growing interest in understanding the contribution of different artforms to creating a supportive therapeutic environment in mental healthcare.

Within the arts and health movement, there have been a number of evaluation studies of community-based participation projects. A review of these by the Health Development Agency (2000) concluded that it was ‘impossible to give precise details of improved health, particularly in the light of the fact that so few projects directly provide information on health, or social matters related to health, which are based on formal instruments of measurement’. The review suggested there was more evidence (albeit anecdotal) of increased patient wellbeing and self-esteem. [from Executive Summary, p. 4-5]

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