[Dance/movement therapy in oncological rehabilitation]

Area of Science:

• Psychosocial interventions
• Art therapy
• Cancer rehabilitation

Background:

• Dance/movement therapy is a psychosocial and body-oriented art therapy utilizing dance for emotional and cognitive expression.
• It is a valuable intervention for cancer patients to improve coping strategies.
• Research on dance therapy for cancer patients remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of dance/movement therapy in inpatient rehabilitation for cancer patients.
• To assess improvements in quality of life, anxiety, depression, and self-concept.
• To explore patients' subjective experiences and perceived benefits of the therapy.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post design with a control group and a 3-month follow-up was employed.
• 115 patients participated in the dance/movement therapy intervention.
• Standardized questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, HADS, FSKN) and a new questionnaire for subjective evaluation were used.

Main Results:

• Key therapeutic factors identified include emotional expression, enhanced self-esteem, personality development, vitality, inner balance, and body awareness.
• Significant improvements in quality of life and psychological well-being were observed.
• Medium to large effect sizes were noted for the observed improvements.

Conclusions:

• Dance/movement therapy demonstrates therapeutic potential within inpatient rehabilitation settings for cancer patients.
• While not solely attributable to the intervention, findings highlight key therapeutic factors and process characteristics.
• Patient-reported outcomes and subjective evaluations provide valuable insights into the therapy's benefits.