Evaluation of art therapy on mood, anxiety, and pain levels in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

e21713Background: Art therapy is a mental health modality that uses art-making to improve the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of individuals for a variety of purposes. The primary purpose of the trial is to assess the effect of art therapy on cancer patients' mood, anxiety, and pain levels. Secondary endpoints include exploring difference in response to art therapy by specific patient characteristics. Methods: Trial enrolled 50 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. They participated in an hour long art therapy session with Art Therapist. Patients completed four visual analog scales (VAS) at three different time points: pre-treatment, post treatment (immediately after session) and 48-72 hours after session. Primary end points are pre and post session changes in the VAS for distress, depression, anxiety and pain. Secondary endpoints include differences in VAS scores by ethnic groups (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic), race (white vs non-white), age, gender, and marital status. Analysis was performed usi...