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The effects of art-making intervention on mind–body and quality of life in adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effectiveness of art-making interventions on physical and psychological outcomes, as well as quality of life (QOL), in adult patients with cancer.

Methods

Seven English-language databases (PubMed, Academic Search Premier, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and three Chinese-language databases (CNKI, WanFang, and VIP) were searched up to and including May 1, 2023. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 and the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies-of Interventions to evaluate the certainty of evidence. The data were analyzed using Review Manager software 5.4. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022321471).

Results

The studies predominantly focused on visual art (n = 21), two specifically used performing art (n = 2), and five integrated both forms of art-making (n = 5). The pooled results showed that art-making significantly improved anxiety (SMD =  − 1.12, 95% CI [− 1.43, − 0.81], p < 0.01), depression (SMD =  − 0.91, 95% CI [− 1.16, − 0.65], p < 0.01), distress (SMD =  − 1.19, 95% CI [− 1.43, − 0.95], p < 0.01), psychological well-being (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI [0.02, 0.80], p = 0.04), societal well-being (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI [0.04, 0.54], p = 0.03), nausea (SMD =  − 1.81, 95% CI [− 2.84, − 0.78], p < 0.01), physical well-being (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI [0.02, 0.20], p = 0.02), and QOL (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI [0.29, 1.33], p < 0.01). However, it did not significantly improve fatigue (SMD =  − 0.28, 95% CI [− 0.75, 0.19], p = 0.24) and pain (SMD =  − 0.18, 95% CI [− 1.97, 1.60], p = 0.84) in patients with cancer.

Conclusions

Art-making interventions may boost psychological well-being, physical symptoms, and QOL among patients with cancer. More robust studies are necessary to overcome methodological limitations and promote wider adoption of these interventions.

Trial registration

Prospero registration number: CRD42022321471.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this systematic review are all presented in tables, appendixes, and figures.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the English editing services from Rachel Arbing and the assistance in literature search from the library staff of Fujian Medical University.

Funding

This work was supported by the General Project of Fujian Provincial Nature Science Foundation (grant no. 2021J01246) and NIH/NIMH P30MH058107 (PI: Steven Shoptaw).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, No. 1 Xueyuan Road, Minhou County, Fuzhou, 350108, Fujian, China

    Jialing Lin, Xiujing Lin, Qiuhong Chen, Yonglin Li & Feifei Huang

  2. University of California, Los Angeles, 700 Tiverton Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90505, USA

    Wei-Ti Chen

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Contributions

Feifei Huang and Wei-Ti Chen made substantial contributions to design this systematic review and data conversion, as well as agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. Qiuhong Chen and Yonglin Li conducted database searches. Jialing Lin and Xiujing Lin selected the studies, extracted the data from the original articles, and assessed the quality of the studies. Jialing Lin was involved in drafting the manuscript. All authors gave final approval of the version to be published.

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Correspondence to Wei-Ti Chen or Feifei Huang.

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Lin, J., Lin, X., Chen, Q. et al. The effects of art-making intervention on mind–body and quality of life in adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 32, 186 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08364-y

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