Patient Perceptions of Landscape and Abstract Art in Inpatient Cardiac Units: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this exploratory study was to capture the influence of artwork in the hospital corridors within cardiothoracic inpatients. BACKGROUND: This study builds on previous research to determine the preferred types of artwork (landscape vs. abstract) in the hospital setting as well as the influence of the art itself. METHODS: Participants engaged in surveys with predefined single-choice responses and semistructured one-on-one interviews. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 45 participants, 15 from each of the units (Landscape, Abstract, or Mixed). A higher percentage of participants reported a positive impact on the Landscape Unit; however, the positive responses on the Abstract and Mixed Units were also notable. Eighty-two percent of responses from patients on the Abstract Unit were positive, as were 82% from the Landscape Unit and the Mixed Unit. CONCLUSIONS: Although landscape was preferred, abstract and mixed art also had positive responses and abstract did not have a negative effect. All genres of art have a place in a hospital; however, strategies should be developed that include more education, engagement, and interpretation of the artwork.

A Hospital's Contemporary Art Collection: Effects on Patient Mood, Stress, Comfort, and Expectations.

OBJECTIVE: It is not firmly established whether an art collection of diverse subject matter, media, and imagery in the hospital environment can play a significant role in mitigating the psychological stresses and physical pain associated with a hospital visit, or whether it improves patients' satisfaction with their care. The variety of contemporary art displayed in the institution investigated in this paper served as a case study to assess the qualitative and quantitative effects of such a collection on patient health and experience. We sought to assess whether the diversity in subject matter, imagery, and media would positively affect patient mood, comfort level, stress level, and expectation of visit. BACKGROUND: Previous research concluded that nature art (i.e., representational depictions of nature) has positive effects on patient health outcomes. Studies to date have assessed the effects of individual units of artwork rather than that of an art collection as a whole. METHODS: A survey was sent to 4,376 members of an online Patient Panel, comprised of patients who volunteer to evaluate their experiences at Cleveland Clinic. For this study, Panel members were screened based on whether they had been to the Main Campus in the past 12 months. RESULTS: A majority of respondents noticed the artwork, had improved moods and stress levels due to the artwork, and reported that the art collection positively impacted their overall satisfaction and impression of the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that this particular collection has a significant effect on the patient experience and on self-reported mood, stress, comfort, and expectations. These results suggest that patients may respond positively to the diversity of the collection, and to other types of art in addition to nature art. KEYWORDS: Art, healing environments, hospital, patient-centered care, satisfaction, case study.

Contemporary art in medicine: the Cleveland Clinic art collection.

Fine art is good medicine. It comforts, elevates the spirit, and affirms life and hope. Art in the healthcare setting, combined with outstanding care and service, creates an environment that encourages healing and supports the work of medical professionals. As one of the world's great medical centers, Cleveland Clinic has always included the arts in its healing environment. The four founders and subsequent leadership encouraged artistic and musical expression by employees. Distinguished artworks have long hung on the walls. In 1983, an Aesthetics Committee was officially formed at Cleveland Clinic to address issues of art and design in Cleveland Clinic facilities.

A case from the department of neurology.

Uncompleted suicide attempts are a significant cause of morbidity, which in catastrophic cases can be both medically and ethically challenging to manage. We discuss the case of a 63-year-old man who survived a suicide attempt by venlafaxine (Effexor) overdose, causing an intracranial hemorrhage and leaving him in an apparently awake but noncommunicative state. Ethical concerns arose when considering if he should be indefinitely maintained on life support. These include the difficulties of characterizing his level of consciousness and prognosis; establishing his decisional capacity regarding end-of-life decisions in a setting of depression and suicidality; and assessing the suitability of a surrogate decision-maker. In conclusion, we discuss whether the fact that his grave neurological condition was caused by a suicide attempt was relevant to the decision to continue or withdraw life support.