White C1, Smith C2, O'Driscoll G2, Grills L2, Stancliffe R3
1King's College London, School of Population, Health and Environmental Sciences, London, United Kingdom, 2King's College London, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, London, United Kingdom, 3Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Arts and Community, London, United Kingdom
Background: Following acquired brain injuries (ABI) individuals may have a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioural and communication impairments that can lead to functional difficulties, loss of independence and personal control, low mood and social isolation. Whilst multidisciplinary rehabilitation is recommended to help people regain independence and improve well-being, where long-term sequelae exist a focus on helping patients to accept their condition and learn how to live with it and adapt is also crucial. Creative arts therapies and arts and health practice´s promote the creative process to encourage patients to be open to new ideas to find original solutions to challenges and thereby may contribute to improved outcomes in the longer term.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of participation in creative arts for people after ABI and to identify the perceived benefits.
Methods: The 7 stage meta-ethnographic process described by Noblitt and Hare was used and six electronic databases were searched to identify relevant qualitative studies involving more than 300 participants following either stroke or traumatic brain injury. Participants quotes (first order constructs) about their experiences, and study authors interpretations (2nd order constructs) were extracted from included studies to form the basis of an iterative process of analysis including reciprocal translation and a line-of-argument synthesis.
Results: Sixteen studies were included involving more than 200 participants (16 to 91 years) with ABI where their experiences of taking part in art, dance and music therapy or mixed creative arts was explored using focus groups, semi-structured and in-depth interviews or participants written narratives. The analysis revealed 6 key themes (3rd order constructs) that describe participants experience and perceived benefits of participating in creative arts: expressing emotional adjustment, an avenue for escapism, permitting social interaction, gaining insight into abilities, becoming empowered and enhancing well-being. Further interpretation of these themes produced a line of argument synthesis that describes how participation in creative arts permits opportunities that contribute to an enhancement of a sense of well-being.
Conclusion(s): For people after ABI who are left with life-changing impairments and emotional consequences, participation in creative arts can offer opportunities not available via conventional therapies that may positively affect well-being.
Implications: The findings of the current qualitative synthesis suggests that clinicians should consider the potential contribution of promoting creativity in people after ABI to enhance psychological outcomes and well-being. This may be as part of creative arts therapy or supporting individuals to access community based participative arts activities.
Keywords: Meta-ethnography, creative therapy, neurology
Funding acknowledgements: Cultural Institute, King´s College London.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of participation in creative arts for people after ABI and to identify the perceived benefits.
Methods: The 7 stage meta-ethnographic process described by Noblitt and Hare was used and six electronic databases were searched to identify relevant qualitative studies involving more than 300 participants following either stroke or traumatic brain injury. Participants quotes (first order constructs) about their experiences, and study authors interpretations (2nd order constructs) were extracted from included studies to form the basis of an iterative process of analysis including reciprocal translation and a line-of-argument synthesis.
Results: Sixteen studies were included involving more than 200 participants (16 to 91 years) with ABI where their experiences of taking part in art, dance and music therapy or mixed creative arts was explored using focus groups, semi-structured and in-depth interviews or participants written narratives. The analysis revealed 6 key themes (3rd order constructs) that describe participants experience and perceived benefits of participating in creative arts: expressing emotional adjustment, an avenue for escapism, permitting social interaction, gaining insight into abilities, becoming empowered and enhancing well-being. Further interpretation of these themes produced a line of argument synthesis that describes how participation in creative arts permits opportunities that contribute to an enhancement of a sense of well-being.
Conclusion(s): For people after ABI who are left with life-changing impairments and emotional consequences, participation in creative arts can offer opportunities not available via conventional therapies that may positively affect well-being.
Implications: The findings of the current qualitative synthesis suggests that clinicians should consider the potential contribution of promoting creativity in people after ABI to enhance psychological outcomes and well-being. This may be as part of creative arts therapy or supporting individuals to access community based participative arts activities.
Keywords: Meta-ethnography, creative therapy, neurology
Funding acknowledgements: Cultural Institute, King´s College London.
Topic: Neurology; Disability & rehabilitation; Mental health
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: KIng''s College London
Ethics committee: King''s College London Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: LRS-16/17-4443
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
