Effectiveness of Art Therapy in Improving Quality of Life Among Cardiac Patients

Abstract

Art activities not only support holistic health but also act as a source of motivation for well-being. Unmanaged psychosocial stress levels can negatively impact prognosis and survival rates, especially amongst those with a diagnosis of cancer or cardiac disease (Bar-Sela et al.,2007; Ramos, Prata, Bettencourt, Gonçalves, & Coelho, 2016; Sokoreli et al., 2016, Tully et al., 2011). Art therapy is a fun and recreational approach, known to maintain psychological stability. Art therapy (AT) has been shown to help unaddressed psychosocial distress in hospitalized patients and to promote better management of physical symptoms, overall well-being, and socialization (Angheluta & Lee, 2011; Kapitan, 2012). The aim of the study is to identify the effect of art therapy on modifying psychological distress and improving quality of life among cardiac patients. The objective of the study is to know the effect of art therapy on quality of life among arrhythmia and coronary artery disease patients. 30 patients (N=30) screened with indication of mental disorder using Kessler Psychological distress scale (K10) were selected using purposive sampling from a cardiac speciality hospital and were evaluated for quality of life using World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale. Scribbling, know your depression and Gratitude Mandala techniques were provided for 9 days without interval implementing each technique for three days respectively. The effectiveness of art therapy was analysed using paired t-test. Findings prove that there has been significant improvement quality of life after the intervention.