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

ABSTRACT

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.