Effect of Clinical Art Therapy on Self-Esteem, Anxiety, and Pain of Pediatric Burn Patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is examine the effects of clinical art therapy on self-esteem, anxiety, and pain of pediatric burn patients. METHODS: Hospitalized pediatric patients, age from 6 to 15, at H specialized burn hospital located in Seoul were chosen as subjects for this study. Total 11 people were participated. An experimental group received 8 sessions of a clinical art therapy program, twice a week with each 40 minutes long. As for measurement tools, a Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and a State Anxiety Inventory for Children (SAIC) were used. And a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was implemented before and after each session. Also, a Drawing a Person test was analyzed along with individual characteristics. RESULTS: 1) The self-esteem score after art-therapy was improved from 28.1+/-3.4 to 32.9+/-3.1 (P<0.001), 2) The Anxiety score after art-therapy was decrease from 34.6+/-3.7 to 26.8+/-2.8 (P<0.001), 3) Overall 8 sessions of each art-therapy, there were significant reduction in the pain scale score (least squares means: 2.5 (2.1~2.8), P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrate positive effects of clinical art therapy on self-esteem, anxiety, and pain of pediatric burn patients.

Current Status of Clinical Art Therapy

Art therapy 1. is a health service profession based on knowledge of human development and psychological theories and research with integrative approach involving both sides of the brain, the mind, body and spirit, 2. utilizes art media (such as drawing, painting, clay), images, the creative process, and client response to create products that reflect the individual's personal development, abilities, personality, interest, concerns, and conflicts. and 3. has been implemented in assessment as well as treatment since 1961 when Ulman initiated a new terminology "Art Therapy" as described in the "Bulletin of Art Therapy". Art Therapy 1. endorses the idea that the process of making art is inherently therapeutic, 2. takes into consideration thoughts, feelings, behaviors and spirituality within the counselling process, 3. can be used to explore issues of relationships, family, loss, life transitions, abuse, and development, and 4. includes interventions to resolve emotional conflict, increase self-awareness and self-esteem, build social skills, change behaviour, increase coping skills, and to develop strategies for problem solving. For the past four decades in some developed countries like United States, France, Germany, and Japan, art therapy has been actively and positively applied in the fields of psychiatry, pediatrics, and rehabilitation medicine, and also in management of chronic pain and cancer patients as a complementary therapeutic modality and basic research tool as well. In approximately 2001 in Korea, educational program of art therapy on a post-graduate level at medical schools and art therapy clinics at university hospitals were begun. Ever since that time the clinical, academic, and research activities are noticeably growing in number and quality. It is anticipated that if the theories and skills of western medicine, oriental medicine and complementary alternative medicine are put together, the newly established integrative art therapy will make significant contribution toward overall improvement in future medicine.