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The Healing through Arts (HeARTS) program for children bereaved by cancer: Pilot study findings from Singapore

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2023

Saryna Ong ,
Travis Loh ,
Phyllis Wong  and
Irene Teo Open the ORCID record for Irene Teo [Opens in a new window]
Saryna Ong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosocial Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Travis Loh
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosocial Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Phyllis Wong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosocial Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Irene Teo*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosocial Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
*
Author for correspondence: Irene Teo; Email: irene.teo.e.a@nccs.com.sg
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Abstract

Objectives

The article aims to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a short-term 3-day art therapy group for children who have experienced parental death to cancer.

Methods

The study utilized a pretest–posttest design and included children (n = 20) aged 7–12 years. The feasibility of the intervention was measured by recruitment ability, study compliance, and intervention adherence, while acceptability was assessed using a child-reported satisfaction survey. Efficacy was examined using the child-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), while the emotional, social, and behavioral functioning of children was measured using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Paired sample t-tests were used for analyses.

Results

The intervention was found to be feasible (80% recruitment rate and 100% session adherence). Acceptability was high, and all participants were satisfied and found the intervention to be helpful. While results did not reach statistical significance, improvements in psychosocial and physical quality of life were reported by all the children post-intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. Parent-reported a decrease in behavioral difficulties scores and an increase in prosocial behavior scores at post-intervention and at the 3-month follow-up.

Significance of results

The 3-day art therapy group intervention was shown to be feasible to conduct and acceptable to the recipients. The intervention shows promise in improving post-death adjustment and quality of life outcomes of children bereaved by parental death due to cancer that were maintained after 3 months. The use of art therapy groups to ameliorate difficulties associated with parental loss and to assist children in coping day-to-day difficulties should be further investigated.

Keywords

ChildrenBereavementParental deathArt therapyGroup therapy
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 2024 , pp. 243 - 250
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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