Effect of art making on cancer-related symptoms of blood and marrow transplantation recipients.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To examine whether a one-hour art-making session during blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) treatment significantly affects therapy-related symptoms, state anxiety, and stress.


DESIGN
A pre- and post-test crossover design.


SETTING
An urban outpatient cancer center in the midwestern United States.


SAMPLE
A convenience sample of 20 patients, aged 20-68 years (X = 38.5), receiving treatment at a BMT clinic.


METHODS
Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist, and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Index, and provided salivary cortisol samples. After pretesting, individuals were assigned to either a wait list or intervention. Individuals in the wait-list group received the usual treatment before completing the post-test measures. Individuals in the intervention group participated in a one-hour art-making session, after which they completed post-test measures. Participants then crossed over to the other group.


MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Art making, stress, state anxiety, and therapy-related symptoms.


FINDINGS
Therapy-related symptom concerns for the intervention group at post-test were significantly lower than at pretest; no change ocurred in the control group. The salivary cortisol levels were significantly lower at post-test in the intervention and control groups. No change occurred in the anxiety levels of participants in the intervention and control groups. The study hypothesis was partially supported.


CONCLUSIONS
Art making decreased therapy-related symptoms (e.g., feeling sluggish, difficulty concentrating). Use of more physiologic indices to measure stress and replication on a larger sample are suggested.


IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Individuals receiving BMT may benefit from participation in art-making interventions. Art making is easy to implement in a clinic setting and allows for positive interactions between nurses and patients.