Development of an art program on a bone marrow transplant unit

Area of Science:

• Arts in Medicine
• Creative Arts Therapy
• Patient and Family Support

Background:

• The Arts in Medicine program at Shands Hospital aims to connect creative and healing arts.
• The goal is to improve community health (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual).
• This project seeks to replicate similar programs in other hospitals and clinical units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To facilitate the development of arts-in-medicine programs in clinical settings.
• To explore the therapeutic potential of creative arts interventions.
• To investigate the collaborative role of artists, patients, families, and healthcare providers.

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of professional artists as artists-in-residence in an intensive care unit (Bone Marrow Transplant Unit).
• Conducting creative arts workshops and one-on-one sessions.
• Exploring the creative process involving nurses, physicians, artists, patients, and families.

Main Results:

• Nurses act as facilitators and advocates, integrating artistic processes into patient care.
• Artists design and implement creative projects, providing consultation.
• The program assumes universal artistic potential, fostering self-awareness and self-esteem.

Conclusions:

• Creative arts expression can be a potent force for physical, mental, and spiritual healing.
• Integrating artists into healthcare settings can enhance patient and family well-being.
• This pilot program demonstrates a model for interdisciplinary collaboration in therapeutic arts.